Compare towns
Colrain vs Erving vs Leyden vs Heath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Erving | Leyden | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
1,703Highest |
637Lowest |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
| Heath and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Erving and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Heath 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 22% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 49% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Erving and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Erving | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.