Compare towns

Colrain vs Westhampton vs Leyden vs Oakham

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 affordable homes ($284k median).
Westhampton has the most people working from home (14.1%).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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.

MeasureColrainWesthamptonLeydenOakham
People
Population
1,627
1,552
637Lowest
1,639Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-2.7%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.6±8.7
24% above MA
49.3±4.9
23% above MA
53.2±8.2Highest
33% above MA
49±2.3Lowest
23% 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%±4.2
MA: 19.4%
18%±4.1
MA: 19.4%
13.8%±3.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.2%±3.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
Oakham and Westhampton 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%
25.4%±2.8
MA: 17.9%
28.6%±2.7
MA: 17.9%
21.4%±2.3Lowest
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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
47%Highest
MA: 47.3%
40%
MA: 47.3%
40.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
0.5%±2.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Oakham and Westhampton 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
$100,000±$7k
4% below MA
$105,893±$13kHighest
about the MA average
$102,000±$20k
about the MA average
Leyden and Oakham 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
$413,200±$24k
26% below MA
$372,900±$24k
34% below MA
$420,100±$20kHighest
25% below MA
Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,102±$77Lowest
37% below MA
$1,304±$229
26% below MA
$1,917±$451Highest
9% above MA
$1,174±$81
33% below MA
Leyden and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,317
28% below MA
$6,476Highest
8% above MA
$4,651
22% below MA
$4,103Lowest
32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±22.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±53.5
MA: 51.8%
42.9%±100
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
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%
6.5%
MA: 10%
10.8%Highest
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
91.4%
MA: 62.5%
93.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
91.6%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
15% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
33 min
12% above MA
39 minHighest
32% above MA
Work from home
8.4%±2.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14.1%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
11%±5
MA: 18.6%
9.6%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
Westhampton and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mohawk Trail Hampshire · Westhampton — Quabbin
High school in town None in town Hampshire Regional High — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.