Compare towns
Leyden vs Cavendish vs Colrain vs Heath
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%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Cavendish | Colrain | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 637Lowest |
1,242 |
1,627Highest |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% 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% |
18.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cavendish 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% |
23.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest 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% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cavendish 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. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 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% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mohawk Trail | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.