Compare towns
Colrain vs Lee vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Lee | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627 |
5,719Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
| Lee and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Colrain and Leyden 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 22% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Leyden and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
| Leyden and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Leyden and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Lee 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Lee | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.