What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leyden has the most expensive homes ($373k median).

Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).

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	Waltham
People
Population	637Highest	452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	53.2±8.2Lowest 37% above U.S.	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.
	Waltham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Leyden and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waltham 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 31% above U.S.	$97,500±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
	Leyden and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S.	$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average
	Leyden and Waltham 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.	$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,651Lowest 49% above U.S.	$5,714Highest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Leyden and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waltham 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

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.