What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Leicester has the most affordable homes ($310k 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	Leicester
People
Population	637Lowest	1,026Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S.	48.8±3.8Lowest 25% 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	13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.9%±5.1Highest 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+	28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.5%±6.7Lowest 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+	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1.6Highest 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	$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S.	$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below 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	$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S.	$309,700±$107kLowest 7% below 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	$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S.	$1,098±$300Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,651Highest 49% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±40.4Lowest 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	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Lowest 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.	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.
Work from home	11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.7%±5.9Highest 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.