Compare towns

Leyden vs Plainfield vs Colrain

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%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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.

MeasureLeydenPlainfieldColrain
People
Population
637Lowest
1,314
1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.2±8.2Highest
37% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Lowest
24% above U.S.
49.6±8.7
28% 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%
16.3%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield 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%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1Highest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Colrain and Plainfield 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.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
$80,673±$10k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$372,900±$24kHighest
12% above U.S.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,917±$451Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
$1,102±$77Lowest
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,651
49% above U.S.
$4,806Highest
54% above U.S.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Colrain 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%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
23% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
11%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield 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

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.