Compare towns
Leyden vs Ware vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Ware | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
10,048Highest |
850 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
| Leyden and Wendell 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Wendell 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Leyden and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
| Leyden and Wendell 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ware | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.