Compare towns
Boylston vs Millis vs Needham vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
Millis has the most homeowners (83.2%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Boylston | Millis | Needham | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
8,888 |
32,459Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Millis 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% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Needham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 21% above MA |
$9,344 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Millis | Needham | Hadley |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Millis High School | Needham High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.7 |
11.9Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| 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.