Compare towns
Heath vs Rowe vs Webster 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%).
Rowe has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Leyden has the most expensive homes ($373k 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 | Rowe | Webster | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
453Lowest |
12,228Highest |
637 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below 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% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Webster 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% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Rowe 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% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% 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±$45k 48% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$576 25% below MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Leyden and Rowe 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 |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$3,234 46% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Webster 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% |
15.8% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Leyden 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 | — | — | #271 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Rowe | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| 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.