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Severance vs Mead

20 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+102.3 pts in Severance) and jobs per worker (6.7× in Mead).

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Severance, COKnown for its schoolsColorado · 10,130 people

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Mead, COHomes around $552KColorado · 5,919 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

SeveranceKnown for its schools

Schools#55 for schools in COof 142 towns Housing$494K typical home7% below the CO typical home HealthHealthier than 91%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Severance →

MeadHomes around $552K

Housing$552K typical home4% above the CO typical home HealthHealthier than 90%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Schools#45 for schools in COof 142 towns All about Mead →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Growth since 2010+102.3 pts

Severance has grown faster since 2010

Severance +142.7%Mead +40.4%

Jobs per worker6.7×

Mead is more of a job hub

Mead 0.67Severance 0.10

Severance has more miles of trail

Severance 16.9 miMead 3.4 mi

Street grid+45%

Severance has the more walkable street grid

Severance 31.7Mead 21.8

★ What stands out · Report cards

Severance places higher on 12 of 22 CO lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Colorado ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety

A−SeveranceSafer than 84% of U.S. towns BMeadSafer than 58% of U.S. towns

Schools

A−SeveranceBetter than 84% of districts in the state A−MeadBetter than 77% of districts in the state

Health

ASeveranceHealthier than 91% of U.S. towns AMeadHealthier than 90% of U.S. towns

12Severance

7Mead

Lists won, of 22 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Cheapest rentCost of living · 153 towns #144#33 Lowest depressionHealth · 160 towns #112#37 Most trailsOutdoors · 143 towns #82#141 Highest graduation rateSchools · 142 towns #10#58 Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 160 towns #99#60 SafestSafety · 83 towns #6#25 Most activeHealth · 160 towns #34#70 Shortest commuteGetting around · 160 towns #110#138

Left end = #1 in Colorado. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Severance’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $310 more a month in Mead

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Severance$2,910/mo

Typical home $494K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.77% · or rent about $2,569/mo · Housing →

Mead$3,220/mo

Typical home $552K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.71% · or rent about $1,275/mo · Housing →

The difference: $310 a month, about $3,800 a year, between Mead and Severance.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

SeveranceMead

Snow a year33″47″

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)52nd 26th

Outdoors & history

SeveranceMead

Trails17 mi 3 mi

Conserved land0.3%0.7%

Settled—1906

National Register places—1

Archive photos4 5

Famous people born here—2

Community

SeveranceMead

Library hours a week48 hrs —

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

20 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

SeveranceMead

Severance ↔ Mead20 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Colorado average

SeveranceMead

People

Population 10,130Highest 5,919Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +142.7%Highest CO: +14.8% +40.4%Lowest CO: +14.8%

Median age 32.4±1.7Lowest 14% below CO 36.8±4Highest about the CO average

Mead and Severance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 30.2%±5.1Lowest CO: 21% 30.8%±6.6Highest CO: 21%

Mead and Severance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 6.6%±2Lowest CO: 15.6% 9.9%±3.8Highest CO: 15.6%

Mead and Severance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 47.7%Lowest CO: 45.7% 50.3%Highest CO: 45.7%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 9.2%±3.2Highest CO: 6.4% 6%±3.4Lowest CO: 6.4%

Severance and Mead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $124,572±$12kLowest 30% above CO $125,357±$18kHighest 31% above CO

Mead and Severance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $528,500±$43kLowest about the CO average $585,100±$38kHighest 8% above CO

Mead and Severance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,569±$306Highest 46% above CO $1,275±$1kLowest 28% below CO

Severance and Mead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $4,092Lowest 57% above CO $4,134Highest 59% above CO

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 20.3%±21.5Lowest CO: 52.9% 34.4%±31.4Highest CO: 52.9%

Mead and Severance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 5.2%Highest CO: 9.4% 1.4%Lowest CO: 9.4%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 91.6%Lowest CO: 66.2% 93.7%Highest CO: 66.2%

Typical home builtmedian year 2014Highest 26 yrs newer than CO 2006Lowest 18 yrs newer than CO

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 27 minLowest 8% above CO 31 minHighest 21% above CO

Work from home 20%±5.9Highest CO: 21% 18.2%±6.9Lowest CO: 21%

Severance and Mead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 1.9%Lowest 3.8%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 12.3 miLowest 19.8 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.10Lowest 0.67Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Fort Collins (23%)Longmont (19%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in MeadFew work in Severance

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.3%Lowest 0.7%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 16.9 miHighest 3.4 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.3 miHighest 0.2 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 5Highest 1Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 31.7Highest 21.8Lowest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #55 of 142 in CO #45 of 142 in CO

School district Weld County Reorganized School District No. Re-4St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J

High school in town Severance High SchoolMead High School

Students per teacherat that high school 17.9Lowest 21.1Highest

Colorado average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Severance neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Severance’s Town Square.

Mead neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Mead’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Severance and Mead

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Severance

Windsor37,914 people · $604K homes

Towns like Severance

Eaton5,867 people · $476K homes

Wellington11,798 people · $464K homes

Berthoud12,411 people · $534K homes

Frederick16,651 people · $568K homes

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Colorado towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.