Compare towns
Otis vs Highgate 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Highgate | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% 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% |
15.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% 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. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.