Compare towns
Leyden vs Heath 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%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Colrain has the most kids (15.3% under 18).
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 | Heath | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
765 |
1,627Highest |
| 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 |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Heath 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 about the MA average |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| 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 34% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
— | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651Highest 22% below MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 12% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school 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.