Compare towns

Otis vs Colrain vs Sandisfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Sandisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

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.

MeasureOtisColrainSandisfield
People
Population
1,624
1,627Highest
994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%
MA: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
51±3.2Highest
28% above MA
49.6±8.7Lowest
24% above MA
49.9±7.5
25% above MA
Otis and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±4.8
MA: 19.4%
15.3%±4.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
14%±2.9Lowest
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+
28%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
30.4%±4.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
28%±5.6Lowest
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+
39.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
37.3%
MA: 47.3%
26%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
2.8%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.8%±4.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Sandisfield 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
5% above MA
$80,673±$10kLowest
22% below MA
$91,111±$23k
12% below MA
Otis and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,700±$40kHighest
29% below MA
$284,300±$14kLowest
49% below MA
$360,300±$34k
36% below MA
Otis and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,318±$924Highest
25% below MA
$1,102±$77Lowest
37% below MA
$1,250±$220
29% below MA
Otis and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,408Lowest
60% below MA
$4,317Highest
28% below MA
$3,328
44% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±100
MA: 51.8%
46%±22.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
66.7%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
Sandisfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.2%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%
MA: 62.5%
86.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
96.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1978Highest
14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
15% above MA
34 minHighest
15% above MA
31 minLowest
8% above MA
Work from home
22.3%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
16.5%±8
MA: 18.6%
Otis and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Farmington River Reg Mohawk Trail —
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.