Compare towns
Leyden vs Sharon 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 the highest household income ($106k).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Sharon | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
1,577 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% 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% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Sharon 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. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Leyden and Sharon 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. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Sharon 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. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651 49% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Highest 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sharon and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Sharon School District | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None 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.