Compare towns
Wendell vs Leyden vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wendell has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Leyden has the oldest population (median age 53.2).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Wendell | Leyden | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 850 |
637Lowest |
1,499Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8Lowest 18% above MA |
53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Leyden and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whately and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Leyden and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
$105,893±$13k about the MA average |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
| Whately and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% 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 | $4,519Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,651 22% below MA |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | New Salem-Wendell | — | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.