Compare towns
Leyden vs Needham vs Greenfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has the oldest population (median age 53.2).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Greenfield has the shortest commute (17 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 | Needham | Greenfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
32,459Highest |
17,664 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±2.1 12% above MA |
| Leyden and Greenfield 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Greenfield 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$55,614±$7kLowest 47% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$263,100±$16kLowest 53% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451 9% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,107±$67Lowest 37% below MA |
| Needham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651Lowest 22% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,769 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
63.2%±7.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Greenfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 12% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.9%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #257 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Greenfield |
| High school in town | — | — | Greenfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.