Compare towns
Otis vs Wakefield vs Tolland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Tolland has the most affordable homes ($356k 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 | Wakefield | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624 |
27,793Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51±3.2 28% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
51.7±7.2Highest 29% above MA |
| Tolland and Otis 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%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±5.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Wakefield and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wakefield 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 |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$106,250±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$355,700±$22kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
— |
| Wakefield 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 |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$2,714 55% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Wakefield 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.