Compare towns
Barnard vs Needham vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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.
| Measure | Barnard | Needham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Needham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Calais 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.