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Berthoud vs Severance

16 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+40.3 pts in Severance) and jobs per worker (5.3× in Berthoud).

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Berthoud, COHomes around $607KColorado · 12,411 people
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Severance, COKnown for its schoolsColorado · 10,130 people
Swap order
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

BerthoudHomes around $607K
Housing$607K typical home14% above the CO typical home Schools#34 for schools in COof 142 towns HealthHealthier than 93%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Berthoud →
SeveranceKnown for its schools
Schools#55 for schools in COof 142 towns Housing$494K typical home7% below the CO typical home HealthHealthier than 91%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Severance →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Growth since 2010+40.3 pts
Severance has grown faster since 2010
Severance +142.7%Berthoud +102.4%
Jobs per worker5.3×
Berthoud is more of a job hub
Berthoud 0.53Severance 0.10
Rent+43%
Rent runs higher in Severance
Severance $2,569Berthoud $1,795
Property tax bill+39%
Tax bills are bigger in Severance
Severance $4,092Berthoud $2,938
Median age6.9 yrs
Berthoud skews older
Berthoud 39.3Severance 32.4
Age 65++7.6 pts
Berthoud has more people 65 and up
Berthoud 14.2%Severance 6.6%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $550 more a month in Berthoud

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Berthoud$3,460/mo
Typical home $607K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.55% · or rent about $1,795/mo · Housing →
Severance$2,910/mo
Typical home $494K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.77% · or rent about $2,569/mo · Housing →

The difference: $550 a month, about $6,700 a year, between Berthoud and Severance.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Berthoud places higher on 13 of 20 CO lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Colorado ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
–BerthoudNot graded A−SeveranceSafer than 84% of U.S. towns
Schools
B+BerthoudBetter than 66% of districts in the state A−SeveranceBetter than 84% of districts in the state
Health
ABerthoudHealthier than 93% of U.S. towns ASeveranceHealthier than 91% of U.S. towns
13Berthoud
6Severance

Lists won, of 20 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Lowest obesityHealth · 160 towns #36#119 Cheapest rentCost of living · 153 towns #77#144 Most conserved landOutdoors · 152 towns #101#148 Lowest property taxCost of living · 158 towns #91#132 Shortest commuteGetting around · 160 towns #142#110 Lowest depressionHealth · 160 towns #138#112 Best schoolsSchools · 142 towns #34#55 Fewest smokersHealth · 160 towns #47#66

Left end = #1 in Colorado. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Berthoud’s rankings →

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
BerthoudSeverance
Snow a year47″33″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)24th52nd
Outdoors & history
BerthoudSeverance
Trails18 mi17 mi
Conserved land4.2%0.3%
National Register places2—
Archive photos64
Famous people born here2—
Community
BerthoudSeverance
Library hours a week50 hrs48 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

16 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

BerthoudSeveranceBerthoudSeverance
Berthoud ↔ Severance16 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

BerthoudSeverance
People
Population 12,411Highest 10,130Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +102.4%Lowest CO: +14.8% +142.7%Highest CO: +14.8%
Median age 39.3±3.5Highest 4% above CO 32.4±1.7Lowest 14% below CO
Kids under 18 21.7%±3.8Lowest CO: 21% 30.2%±5.1Highest CO: 21%
Severance and Berthoud are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 14.2%±3Highest CO: 15.6% 6.6%±2Lowest CO: 15.6%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 48.1%Highest CO: 45.7% 47.7%Lowest CO: 45.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.1%±2.5Lowest CO: 6.4% 9.2%±3.2Highest CO: 6.4%
Severance and Berthoud are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $119,385±$13kLowest 25% above CO $124,572±$12kHighest 30% above CO
Severance and Berthoud are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $533,500±$34kHighest about the CO average $528,500±$43kLowest about the CO average
Berthoud and Severance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,795±$77Lowest about the CO average $2,569±$306Highest 46% above CO
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,938Lowest 13% above CO $4,092Highest 57% above CO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 38.4%±20.1Highest CO: 52.9% 20.3%±21.5Lowest CO: 52.9%
Berthoud and Severance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 4.6%Lowest CO: 9.4% 5.2%Highest CO: 9.4%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 87.5%Lowest CO: 66.2% 91.6%Highest CO: 66.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 2011Lowest 23 yrs newer than CO 2014Highest 26 yrs newer than CO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 32 minHighest 25% above CO 27 minLowest 8% above CO
Work from home 21.1%±4.6Highest CO: 21% 20%±5.9Lowest CO: 21%
Berthoud and Severance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 8.1%Highest 1.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 16.3 miHighest 12.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.53Highest 0.10Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Longmont (14%)Fort Collins (23%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in SeveranceFew work in Berthoud
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 4.2%Highest 0.3%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 17.7 miHighest 16.9 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.4 miHighest 1.3 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Lowest 5Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 46.1Highest 31.7Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #34 of 142 in CO#55 of 142 in CO
School district Thompson School District R-2JWeld County Reorganized School District No. Re-4
High school in town Berthoud High SchoolSeverance High School
Students per teacherat that high school 19.7Highest 17.9Lowest
Colorado average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Berthoud neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Berthoud’s Town Square.

Severance neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Severance’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Berthoud

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Johnstown18,883 people · $540K homes

Towns like Berthoud

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Wellington11,798 people · $464K homes
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Mead5,919 people · $585K homes
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Woodland Park7,949 people · $549K homes
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Frederick16,651 people · $568K homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Colorado towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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