Compare towns
Leyden vs Middlesex vs Heath vs Bernardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Heath | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 637Lowest |
1,943 |
765 |
2,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
49±3.2 26% above U.S. |
| Heath and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$81,940±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$295,000±$45kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex 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 36% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,283±$553Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651 49% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,438Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,516 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Leyden and Bernardston 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.