Compare towns
Leyden vs Ashfield vs Heath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Leyden | Ashfield | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
1,893Highest |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Lowest 33% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
| Ashfield and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Heath and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
| Ashfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651 22% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | — |
| 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.