Compare towns
Heath vs Stow 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).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Leyden has the shortest commute (33 min average).
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 | Stow | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
7,165Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Stow 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±$23kLowest 5% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$105,893±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Leyden and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Lowest 26% below 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% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 minLowest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Heath 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 | — | #44 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.