What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k 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.

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

Measure	Leyden	Groton
People
Population	637Lowest	967Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S.	45.7±5.8Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Leyden and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Leyden and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Groton and Leyden 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 31% above U.S.	$77,250±$14kLowest 4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S.	$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S.	$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,651Highest 49% above U.S.	$3,659Lowest 17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Leyden and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.3%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Groton 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.