Compare towns
Leyden vs Sheldon 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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Colrain has the most renters (13.5% rent).
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 | Sheldon | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain and Sheldon 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.