Compare towns

Leyden vs Waltham 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 most expensive homes ($373k median).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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.

MeasureLeydenWalthamColrain
People
Population
637
452Lowest
1,627Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.2±8.2
37% above U.S.
60.8±7.3Highest
56% above U.S.
49.6±8.7Lowest
28% above U.S.
Waltham 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
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±7.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
45.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Waltham 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±$13kHighest
31% above U.S.
$97,500±$14k
21% above U.S.
$80,673±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
Leyden and Waltham 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.
$329,700±$51k
about the U.S. average
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
Leyden and Waltham 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.
$1,096±$113Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,651
49% above U.S.
$5,714Highest
83% above U.S.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
29.2%±58.6Lowest
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%
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
23% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
11%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Waltham 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.