Compare towns
Otis vs Hardwick vs Westhampton vs Colrain
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%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Westhampton has the shortest commute (29 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 | Hardwick | Westhampton | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624 |
2,684Highest |
1,552Lowest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
49.3±4.9 23% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Westhampton 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% |
22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Westhampton 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
| Otis and Westhampton 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 |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$413,200±$24kHighest 26% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Westhampton 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 |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Otis and Westhampton 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 |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Hardwick 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Westhampton 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Quabbin | Hampshire · Westhampton | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.