Compare towns
Leyden vs Orange vs Ware 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Guilford has the most people working from home (16.7%).
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 | Orange | Ware | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 637Lowest |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
2,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$75,243±$6k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$312,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,283±$273 9% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651 49% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,827Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Guilford and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.