Compare towns
Colrain vs Ware vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Otis has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
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 | Ware | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
6,369Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 22% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 49% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Highest 28% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.