Compare towns

Leyden vs Williston vs Colrain

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 most homeowners (93.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k 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.

MeasureLeydenWillistonColrain
People
Population
637Lowest
10,144Highest
1,627
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.2±8.2Highest
37% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
49.6±8.7
28% 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
13.8%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.6%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1Highest
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+
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$105,893±$13k
31% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$80,673±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
Williston and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$372,900±$24k
12% above U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,917±$451Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$1,102±$77Lowest
22% below U.S.
Leyden and Williston 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.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Colrain 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%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
23% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
11%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston 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 — #11 of 70 in VT —
School district — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Mohawk Trail
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.