Compare towns
Leyden vs Fair Haven vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Fair Haven | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
2,724Highest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49±3.2 26% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven and Bernardston 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 31% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,516 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bernardston 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.