What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has the most affordable homes ($249k median).

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athol	Needham
People
Population	8,801Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	25.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Needham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Athol 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 MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,394±$8kLowest 35% below MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,170Lowest 47% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 10% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	9.7%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#256 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Needham
High school in town	—	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.