Compare towns
Heath vs Charlemont vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Charlemont has the most renters (21.7% rent).
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 | Heath | Charlemont | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
1,118Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
53.2±8.2Lowest 33% above MA |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Heath and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
| Leyden and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$4,351Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 minLowest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Hawlemont | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.