Compare towns
Colrain vs Webster vs Oakham 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).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Webster | Oakham | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
12,228Highest |
1,639 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
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% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Oakham 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 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% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Oakham 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 |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| Otis and Oakham 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 |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Oakham 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 |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
| Otis and Webster 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 |
$3,234 46% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #271 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Quabbin | 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 |
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.