What stands out worked out from the figures below

Abington has the most affordable homes ($540k median).

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

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	Abington	Needham
People
Population	17,053Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	22.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Needham and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,400±$12kLowest 21% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$539,600±$34kLowest 4% below MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,724±$250Lowest about the MA average	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,045Lowest 18% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±11Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	15.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#143 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Abington	Needham
High school in town	Abington High	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	11.9Highest
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.