Compare towns
Colrain vs Proctor vs Otis vs Heath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most renters (13.5% rent).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Otis has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Proctor | Otis | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,794Highest |
1,624 |
765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Heath and Otis 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Proctor and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Heath 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 |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Otis and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
— |
| Otis and Colrain 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. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Colrain 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% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Farmington River Reg | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.