Compare towns
Colrain vs Wareham vs Leyden vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Leyden has the most homeowners (93.4%).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Wareham | Leyden | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
23,302Highest |
637Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
51±3.2 28% above MA |
| Leyden and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Colrain and Otis 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% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Leyden 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$105,893±$13k about the MA average |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| Otis and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Wareham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Leyden and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Wareham 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 | — | #272 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Wareham | — | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.