What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Otis	Whately
People
Population	1,624Highest	1,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51±3.2Highest 28% above MA	49.3±6.7Lowest 23% above MA
	Otis and Whately 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%	16.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Whately and Otis 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%	24.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Otis and Whately 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%	47.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,898±$6kLowest 5% above 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±$40kLowest 29% 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	$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA
	Otis and Whately 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	$5,027Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Otis and Whately 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%	5.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974 10 yrs newer than MA	1974 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	20.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	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	Whately
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.