Compare towns
Leyden vs Petersham 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%).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Petersham | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
1,185 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
| Petersham 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% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham 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% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Petersham 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±$13k about the MA average |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
| Leyden and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651Highest 22% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
20%±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% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 12% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Petersham | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None 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.