Compare towns
Leyden vs Needham vs Guilford
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 the oldest population (median age 53.2).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Guilford has the most affordable homes ($313k 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.
| Measure | Leyden | Needham | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
32,459Highest |
2,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.7±5.2 20% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Guilford 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Leyden and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Guilford 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$75,243±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$312,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451 36% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,283±$273Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| 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 49% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,827 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Guilford 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.