Compare towns
Addison vs Leyden vs Mendon vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Leyden has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Addison | Leyden | Mendon | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175Highest |
637 |
1,113 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6Lowest 37% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Addison and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Addison and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Addison and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 9% above U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Leyden and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,917±$451 36% above U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Addison and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,651Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$5,714 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.