Compare towns

Colrain vs Putney 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

Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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.

MeasureColrainPutneyLeyden
People
Population
1,627
2,622Highest
637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below 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%
15.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.8%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Putney and Colrain 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%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,673±$10k
about the U.S. average
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$105,893±$13kHighest
31% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$372,900±$24kHighest
12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,917±$451Highest
36% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$4,651
49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney 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
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney 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 — #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Mohawk Trail Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 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.