Compare towns
Colrain vs Exeter vs Halifax vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Leyden has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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 | Colrain | Exeter | Halifax | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
16,151Highest |
847 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 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+ | 37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Halifax School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.