Compare towns

Leyden vs Halifax 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 the highest household income ($106k).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
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.

MeasureLeydenHalifaxBernardston
People
Population
637Lowest
847
2,164Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.2±8.2Highest
37% above U.S.
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% above U.S.
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%
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Halifax 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%
22.6%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bernardston and Halifax 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.
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% below U.S.
$81,940±$10k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$372,900±$24kHighest
12% above U.S.
$267,500±$21kLowest
20% below U.S.
$332,000±$15k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,917±$451Highest
36% above U.S.
$875±$154Lowest
38% 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
$4,651
49% above U.S.
$4,991Highest
60% above U.S.
$4,516Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
20 minLowest
26% below U.S.
Work from home
11%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.7%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Halifax and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Halifax School District Pioneer Valley
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.