Compare towns
Leyden vs Benson vs Heath vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Colrain has the youngest population (median age 49.6).
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 | Benson | Heath | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 637Lowest |
784 |
765 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% 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 | 13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 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+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Heath 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 31% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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.