Compare towns
Baltimore vs Needham vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltimore has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Baltimore | Needham | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 361Lowest |
32,459Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Baltimore and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,500±$16k 33% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,400±$27kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,329 39% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school 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 |
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.