Compare towns
Colrain vs Leyden vs Ware vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Ware | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
637Lowest |
6,369Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Ware 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 |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| 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 49% below MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | — | Quabbin |
| 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.