Compare towns
Boston vs Needham vs Raynham vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Raynham has the most affordable homes ($524k median).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k 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 | Boston | Needham | Raynham | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
32,459 |
15,505Lowest |
63,266 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.9±1.5 7% above MA |
35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
| Needham and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Raynham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
39.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$124,012±$16k 19% above MA |
$142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$524,400±$29kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
| Brookline and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25 22% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,749±$74Lowest about the MA average |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,752 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
8.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.1% MA: 62.5% |
46.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Brookline 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 | #258 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #190 of 282 in MA | #22 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Needham | Bridgewater-Raynham | Brookline |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Needham High | None in town | Brookline High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
11.9Lowest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.