Compare towns

Leyden vs Webster vs Colrain

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

MeasureLeydenWebsterColrain
People
Population
637Lowest
17,748Highest
1,627
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
53.2±8.2Highest
33% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
49.6±8.7
24% above MA
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
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.3%±4.2
MA: 19.4%
Webster 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
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
30.4%±4.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
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
MA: 47.3%
25.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
37.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±2.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.8%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$105,893±$13kHighest
about the MA average
$72,895±$6kLowest
30% below MA
$80,673±$10k
22% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$372,900±$24kHighest
34% below MA
$361,500±$12k
36% below MA
$284,300±$14kLowest
49% below MA
Leyden and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,917±$451Highest
9% above MA
$1,228±$81
30% below MA
$1,102±$77Lowest
37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,651Highest
22% below MA
$3,999Lowest
33% below MA
$4,317
28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7
MA: 51.8%
46%±22.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
Colrain and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.8%
MA: 10%
12.7%Highest
MA: 10%
7.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
59.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1962Lowest
2 yrs older than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
12% above MA
31 minLowest
5% above MA
34 minHighest
15% above MA
Work from home
11%±5Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±2.3
MA: 18.6%
Leyden and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #271 of 282 in MA —
School district — Webster Mohawk Trail
High school in town — Bartlett High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

MA 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.