Compare towns
Otis vs Plainfield vs Colrain vs Whately
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 people working from home (22.3%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Colrain | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624 |
1,314Lowest |
1,627Highest |
1,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
49.3±6.7 27% 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% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whately and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3 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% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4 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±$6k 35% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| 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 19% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$431,500±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Otis and Plainfield 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. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$5,027Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | 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.