What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Leyden	Peru
People
Population	637Highest	630Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA	52.6±4.8Lowest 32% above MA
	Leyden and Peru 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%	16.3%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Peru and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Peru and Leyden 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%	28%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Peru 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	$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA
	Leyden and Peru 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	$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,917±$451 9% above MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,651Highest 22% below MA	$3,805Lowest 36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Leyden and Peru 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%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 12% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	11%±5Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Leyden and Peru 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.