What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).

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	Mendon	Leyden
People
Population	1,113Highest	637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S.	53.2±8.2Lowest 37% above U.S.
	Mendon and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mendon and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	28.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mendon and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mendon and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S.	$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S.
	Leyden and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S.	$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S.
	Leyden and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S.
	Leyden and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.	$4,651Lowest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon 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.