What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

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

Measure	Heath	Leyden
People
Population	765Highest	637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA	53.2±8.2Lowest 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%±2.8Lowest 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%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9%	28.6%±2.7Lowest 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%	40%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%	0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Heath and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,750±$23kLowest 5% 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	$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,917±$451 9% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,438Lowest 26% below MA	$4,651Highest 22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	42.9%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Leyden and Heath 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%	10.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	93.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 20% above MA	33 minLowest 12% above MA
Work from home	31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6%	11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Heath and Leyden 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

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.