Compare towns
Heath vs Gardner vs Warwick 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%).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Gardner | Warwick | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
21,148Highest |
776 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
| Heath and Leyden 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Leyden 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Heath 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% 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 |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
| Leyden and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,367±$163 22% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Leyden and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Gardner | Warwick | — |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.