Compare towns
Leyden vs Ashfield vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k 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.
| Measure | Leyden | Ashfield | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
1,893Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
| Ashfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Highest 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+ | 28.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Colrain and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Leyden and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Ashfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,102±$77 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651 22% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None 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.