Compare towns
Leyden vs Castleton vs Colrain vs Greenfield
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 the highest household income ($106k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Greenfield has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Castleton | Colrain | Greenfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 637Lowest |
4,453 |
1,627 |
17,664Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
44.6±2.1 15% 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%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Greenfield 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$55,614±$7kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$263,100±$16k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,107±$67 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651 49% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,769Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.2%±7.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Greenfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #257 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mohawk Trail | Greenfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Greenfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.