Compare towns
Barnard vs Needham vs Needham vs St. George
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
St. George has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Needham | St. George |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
812Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.7±13.4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| St. George and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.6%Lowest 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% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| St. George 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$109,464±$34k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$376,800±$50kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,394±$132 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,514Lowest 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
96%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. George and Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.