Compare towns
Acton vs Needham vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Rowley has the most affordable homes ($667k 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 | Acton | Needham | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
32,459Highest |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Needham | Triton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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| 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.