Compare towns
Leyden vs Webster vs Colrain vs Heath
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).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Webster | Colrain | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 637Lowest |
17,748Highest |
1,627 |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
| Heath 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest 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%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest 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% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Heath 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 about the MA average |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% 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 |
$4,438 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Leyden 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 | 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.