Compare towns
Leyden vs Westford vs Heath
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%).
Westford has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Westford | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 637Lowest |
2,290Highest |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Heath and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westford and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$98,750±$23kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Westford and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$295,000±$45kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
— |
| Westford and Leyden 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. |
$6,282Highest 101% above U.S. |
$4,438Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Leyden and Heath 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% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.