What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Phillipston has the most kids (17% under 18).

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	Phillipston
People
Population	637Lowest	1,895Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA	48.8±1.7Lowest 22% above MA
	Leyden and Phillipston 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%	17%±5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Phillipston 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%	17.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest MA: 47.3%	25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Phillipston 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	$94,692±$14kLowest 9% below MA
	Leyden and Phillipston 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	$372,400±$27kLowest 34% below MA
	Leyden and Phillipston 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	$1,375±$849Lowest 22% below MA
	Leyden and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,651Highest 22% below MA	$3,914Lowest 35% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Phillipston 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%	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	92.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 12% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	11%±5Highest MA: 18.6%	9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Leyden and Phillipston 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.