What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belmont has the most renters (35.3% rent).

Needham has the most homeowners (83.1%).

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	Belmont	Needham
People
Population	27,175Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
	Needham and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Needham and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Belmont and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	80.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belmont and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$183,137±$14kLowest 76% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,159,000±$33kLowest 106% above MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
	Needham and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA	$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA
	Belmont and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%	3.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	31.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Needham and Belmont 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	#3 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Belmont	Needham
High school in town	Belmont High	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.