Compare towns
Ashfield vs Needham vs Leverett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Leverett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Ashfield | Needham | Leverett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893 |
32,459Highest |
1,608Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
56±6.4 40% above MA |
| Ashfield and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Leverett and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$104,688±$18k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$435,500±$35k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,389±$135 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,779 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Leverett and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Leverett 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Needham | Leverett |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.