Compare towns
Colrain vs Sutton vs Otis vs Halifax
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 51).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Sutton | Otis | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
9,452Highest |
1,624 |
847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Otis 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$108,898±$6k 35% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Otis and Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Sutton | Farmington River Reg | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.