Compare towns
Otis vs Colrain vs Whately
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).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Colrain | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624 |
1,627Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
49.3±6.7Lowest 23% 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 | 15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whately and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
| Whately and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Whately and Otis 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±$77 37% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% 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 | $2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Whately 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 | Whately |
| 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 |
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.