What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

New Salem has the most people working from home (19.4%).

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	New Salem
People
Population	637Lowest	1,054Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	53.2±8.2Lowest 33% above MA	55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA
	New Salem 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%	14.5%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	New Salem and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9%	23.7%±6.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Leyden and New Salem 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%	35.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	New Salem 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±$13kHighest about the MA average	$79,688±$19kLowest 23% below MA
	Leyden and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA	$359,000±$40kLowest 36% below MA
	Leyden and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA	$1,194±$88Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,651Highest 22% below MA	$4,509Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	New Salem 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%	9.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	89%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 12% above MA	23 minLowest 20% below MA
Work from home	11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.4%±8Highest MA: 18.6%
	New Salem and Leyden 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.