Compare towns

Leyden vs Brookfield 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%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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.

MeasureLeydenBrookfieldColrain
People
Population
637Lowest
1,486
1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.2±8.2Highest
37% above U.S.
47±5.9Lowest
21% above U.S.
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
Leyden and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.8%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Brookfield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.4
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Colrain and Brookfield 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%
45.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Colrain 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.
$98,500±$23k
22% above U.S.
$80,673±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
Leyden and Brookfield 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.
$339,300±$15k
about the U.S. average
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
Leyden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,917±$451Highest
36% above U.S.
$975±$306Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,651Highest
49% above U.S.
$4,560
46% above U.S.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Colrain and Leyden 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%
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minLowest
23% above U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
Work from home
11%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Mohawk Trail
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.