Compare towns
Otis vs Cavendish vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k 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 | Otis | Cavendish | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624 |
1,242Lowest |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% 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 | 15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Cavendish and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest 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+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cavendish and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Otis and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% 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 | $2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 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 | 1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.

