Compare towns
Leyden vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Strafford | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
1,372 |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Strafford 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% |
53.3%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% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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 31% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford 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 12% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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 36% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Strafford 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.