Compare towns
Colrain vs Benson vs Leyden vs Oakham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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 | Colrain | Benson | Leyden | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
784 |
637Lowest |
1,639Highest |
| 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% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Benson 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%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% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Oakham 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. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% 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. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% 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%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest 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% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% 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% |
9.6%±3.8 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 | — | Quabbin |
| 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.