Compare towns
Otis vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Colrain | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624 |
154,749Highest |
1,627 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
49.3±6.7 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$284,300±$14k 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 |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Otis and Springfield 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 |
$3,695 38% 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% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #276 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Springfield | Mohawk Trail | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.