Compare towns
Baltimore vs Needham vs West Haven
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).
West Haven has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 361 |
32,459Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3 32% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54±10.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Baltimore 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% |
17.5%±13.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Baltimore 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. |
$85,250±$29kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,400±$27kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,329Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,485 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Baltimore 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% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #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 | 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.