Compare towns
Heath vs Dummerston vs Colrain 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
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Heath | Dummerston | Colrain | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
2,090Highest |
1,627 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
| Heath and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 42% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mohawk Trail | — |
| High school 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.