Compare towns
Colrain vs Benson 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
Colrain has the youngest population (median age 49.6).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Colrain | Benson | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
784 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.