Compare towns
Colrain vs Plainfield vs Halifax vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Otis has the highest household income ($109k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Colrain | Plainfield | Halifax | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
1,314 |
847Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Otis and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Halifax School District | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.