What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Salem has the most people working from home (19.4%).

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

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	New Salem	Leyden
People
Population	1,054Highest	637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA	53.2±8.2Lowest 33% above MA
	New Salem and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.5%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%	13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	New Salem and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±6.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Leyden and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	40%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	New Salem and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,688±$19kLowest 23% below MA	$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average
	Leyden and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$359,000±$40kLowest 36% below MA	$372,900±$24kHighest 34% below MA
	Leyden and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$88Lowest 32% below MA	$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,509Lowest 25% below MA	$4,651Highest 22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8%	42.9%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	New Salem and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest MA: 10%	10.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest MA: 62.5%	93.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 20% below MA	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	19.4%±8Highest MA: 18.6%	11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	New Salem 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

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.