Compare towns
Abington vs Needham vs Rockland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abington has the most renters (27.3% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Rockland has the most affordable homes ($473k 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.
| Measure | Abington | Needham | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,053Lowest |
32,459Highest |
17,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
40.7±3.3 about the MA average |
| Needham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±3.3Lowest 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% |
15.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.3Lowest 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±$12k 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$112,405±$12kLowest 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $539,600±$34k 4% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$472,900±$21kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,610±$255Lowest 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,045 18% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,487Lowest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #143 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #175 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Abington | Needham | Rockland |
| High school in town | Abington High | Needham High | Rockland Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.9 |
12.5Highest |
| 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.