What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellingham has the most affordable homes ($451k median).

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bellingham	Needham
People
Population	17,410Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	22.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Needham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,307±$10kLowest 21% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$196Lowest 4% above MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,030Lowest 16% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Bellingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	18.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#232 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Bellingham	Needham
High school in town	Bellingham High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.