What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).

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	Bridgewater	Leyden
People
Population	980Highest	637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S.	53.2±8.2Lowest 37% above U.S.
	Bridgewater and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	13.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Leyden and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	28.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bridgewater and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bridgewater and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S.	$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S.	$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S.	$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S.
	Leyden and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S.	$4,651Highest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bridgewater and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 4 yrs older than U.S.	1976 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Leyden and Bridgewater 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.