Compare towns
Barrington vs Needham vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Barrington | Needham | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489Lowest |
32,459Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Needham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121Lowest 128% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #65 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Needham | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.