Compare towns
Otis vs Windham vs Becket vs Colrain
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 highest household income ($109k).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k 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 | Windham | Becket | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624 |
594Lowest |
1,962Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Otis and Becket 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Becket 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest 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% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket 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±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Otis and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Otis and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
— | $2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Becket and Otis 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. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,047 about the U.S. average |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Farmington River Reg | — | Central Berkshire | Mohawk Trail |
| 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.