Compare towns
Braintree vs Heath vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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.
| Measure | Braintree | Heath | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Highest |
765 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9 38% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Heath and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
— | $1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Braintree and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | — |
| High school 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.