Compare towns
Bellingham vs Needham vs Norton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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%).
Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).
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 | Bellingham | Needham | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410Lowest |
32,459Highest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.6±1.2 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest 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% |
17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Norton 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% |
45.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,307±$10k 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$501,400±$27k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,911±$375 8% above MA |
| Needham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,929 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9Lowest 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% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #232 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Needham | Norton |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Needham High | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
11.9 |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.