Compare towns
Colrain vs Reading vs Sutton 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Reading | Sutton | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
699 |
790 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Sutton 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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading 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±$10k about the U.S. average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Reading 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. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
| Reading and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.