What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leyden has the most people working from home (11%).

Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k 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	Monroe
People
Population	637Highest	122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	53.2±8.2Lowest 33% above MA	60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA
	Monroe and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±28Highest MA: 19.4%
	Monroe and Leyden 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%	31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Monroe 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Monroe 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±$13k about the MA average	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA	$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,917±$451 9% above MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,651Highest 22% below MA	$2,053Lowest 66% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Leyden and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Lowest MA: 10%	38.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 12% above MA	56 minHighest 93% above MA
Work from home	11%±5Highest MA: 18.6%	0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Leyden and Monroe 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

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.