Compare towns
Heath vs Leyden vs Sutton vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Sutton has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
Petersham has the most expensive homes ($392k median).
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 | Leyden | Sutton | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
637Lowest |
790 |
1,185Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 38% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Petersham 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Petersham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Petersham 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 22% above U.S. |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
— | $1,679±$441Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 42% above U.S. |
$4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Petersham |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.