Compare towns
Colrain vs Leyden vs Unity vs Otis
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 renters (13.5% rent).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Leyden | Unity | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
637Lowest |
1,375 |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Colrain and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Highest 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 |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Otis and Leyden 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. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% 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±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Unity 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. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis 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% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest 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 | — | Unity School District | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.