What stands out worked out from the figures below

Avon has the most affordable homes ($510k median).

Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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	Avon	Needham
People
Population	4,774Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
	Needham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Needham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Avon and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,625±$33kLowest 26% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$509,600±$62kLowest 9% below MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,558±$265Lowest 12% below MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,627Lowest 11% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.3%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#212 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Avon	Needham
High school in town	Avon Middle High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Lowest	11.9Highest
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.