Compare towns
Colrain vs Sheldon vs Leyden vs Otis
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 renters (13.5% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Sheldon | Leyden | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
2,267Highest |
637Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Otis 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Otis 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 |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Otis 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±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Otis and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Farmington River Reg |
| 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.