Compare towns
Berkley vs Needham vs Somerset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Somerset has the most affordable homes ($419k 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 | Berkley | Needham | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,829Lowest |
32,459Highest |
18,298 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47±2.2Highest 18% above MA |
| Somerset and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$112,677±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,977Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #155 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Needham | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.