Compare towns
Otis vs Reading vs Colrain vs Oakham
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 oldest population (median age 51).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Reading | Colrain | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
25,612Highest |
1,627 |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
49±2.3 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Oakham 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% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham 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±$6k 5% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Reading and Otis 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Otis 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Reading | Mohawk Trail | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.