Compare towns
Colrain vs Monroe 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 youngest population (median age 49.6).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Leyden has the most expensive homes ($373k 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 | Monroe | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
122Lowest |
637 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
| Monroe and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Monroe and Colrain 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% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe 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% MA: 47.3% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe 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 |
— | $105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 49% below MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
— | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Colrain and Leyden 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% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
33 minLowest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Leyden and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.