Compare towns
Leyden vs Needham vs Warwick vs Washington
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 most homeowners (93.4%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Warwick has the most affordable homes ($349k median).
Washington has the shortest commute (25 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 | Warwick | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 637 |
32,459Highest |
776 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington 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 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Warwick 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 |
$93,333±$22kLowest 10% below MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$349,400±$34kLowest 38% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451 9% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,367±$163Lowest 22% 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 | $4,651 22% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,380Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Warwick | — |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.