What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ansonia has the most affordable homes ($287k median).

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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	Ansonia	Needham
People
Population	19,033Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±1.6Lowest 3% above U.S.	43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S.
	Needham and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ansonia and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ansonia and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,877±$10kLowest 6% above U.S.	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,200±$14kLowest 14% below U.S.	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,476±$121Lowest 4% above U.S.	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,446Lowest 75% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Needham and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	9.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#142 of 149 in CT	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District	Needham
High school in town	Emmett O'Brien Technical High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.