What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).

Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bellows Falls	Leyden
People
Population	2,891Highest	637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S.	53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S.
	Leyden and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22%	13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bellows Falls and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Leyden and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S.	$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S.	$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S.	$4,651Highest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.9%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bellows Falls and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Leyden and Bellows Falls 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

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.