Compare towns
Heath vs Needham vs Needham 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 affordable homes ($295k median).
Leyden has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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 | Needham | Needham | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23kLowest 5% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$105,893±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,917±$451Lowest 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,651 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%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 |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.