Compare towns
New Salem vs Windsor vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Salem has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Windsor has the youngest population (median age 44.8).
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.
| Measure | New Salem | Windsor | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,054 |
1,065Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
53.2±8.2 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Windsor and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±6.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest 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% |
41.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| New Salem and Windsor 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 |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$105,893±$13k about the MA average |
| Windsor and Leyden 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 |
$389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
| Windsor and Leyden 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 | $4,509 25% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 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% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
93.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 20% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.4%±8 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor and New Salem 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 | 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.