Compare towns
Colrain vs Russell 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 most kids (15.3% under 18).
Russell has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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.
| Measure | Colrain | Russell | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
1,197 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
47.7±7.6Lowest 19% above MA |
53.2±8.2Highest 33% 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%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Colrain and Leyden 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% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 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% |
30.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Russell 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 |
$108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA |
$105,893±$13k about the MA average |
| Russell 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±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 37% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
$5,104Highest 15% below MA |
$4,651 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Leyden and Russell 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.