Compare towns
Heath vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Ware | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
10,048Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | — | Ware | — |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.