Compare towns
Heath vs Leyden vs Ware
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%).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
637Lowest |
6,369Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| 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±$45k 48% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Ware 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| 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.