Compare towns
Colrain vs Highgate vs Williamstown 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).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Williamstown has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Leyden has the most expensive homes ($373k 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.
| Measure | Colrain | Highgate | Williamstown | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
3,528 |
3,579Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
42±5Lowest 8% 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% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williamstown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Williamstown 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. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
$4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.