Compare towns
Colrain vs Guildhall vs Otis 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 most affordable homes ($284k median).
Guildhall has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Guildhall | Otis | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
371Lowest |
1,624 |
637 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Otis 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% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall 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% |
26.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 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% |
33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Otis 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±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$108,898±$6k 35% above U.S. |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
| Guildhall and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
| Otis and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Otis 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% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Farmington River Reg | — |
| High school 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.



