Compare towns
Colrain vs Dover vs Halifax 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Leyden has the oldest population (median age 53.2).
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 | Dover | Halifax | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
5,930Highest |
847 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% 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 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Halifax 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451 36% above U.S. |
| Dover and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Halifax School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.