Compare towns
Acton vs Needham vs Putney vs Belmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Belmont has the most renters (35.3% rent).
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 | Acton | Needham | Putney | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
32,459Highest |
2,622Lowest |
27,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Acton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belmont and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$183,137±$14k 127% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,159,000±$33k 248% above U.S. |
| Needham and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,527±$105Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Belmont and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Needham | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Needham High | None in town | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.9Lowest |
— | 15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.