Compare towns
Brookfield vs Colrain vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Brookfield | Colrain | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,486 |
1,627Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 46% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mohawk Trail | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.