Compare towns
Colrain vs Hardwick vs Oakham 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
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Hardwick | Oakham | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
2,965Highest |
1,639 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% 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% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest 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% |
33.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham 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 |
$92,297±$17k 14% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% 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. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hardwick and Leyden 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.