What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leicester has the most affordable homes ($310k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Leicester	Leyden
People
Population	1,026Highest	637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±3.8Lowest 25% above U.S.	53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S.
	Leyden and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.9%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Leicester and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Leyden and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Leicester and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below U.S.	$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S.
	Leyden and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,700±$107kLowest 7% below U.S.	$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S.
	Leyden and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,098±$300Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.	$4,651Highest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Leyden and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Leicester and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.