Compare towns
Leyden vs Marblehead vs Plainfield 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 the oldest population (median age 53.2).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
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.
| Measure | Leyden | Marblehead | Plainfield | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 637 |
20,413Highest |
616Lowest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
| Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Plainfield 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% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,893±$13k about the MA average |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Leyden and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651 22% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 12% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Plainfield 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 | — | #47 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Marblehead | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Marblehead High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.