Compare towns
Boylston vs Needham vs Clinton
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Clinton has the most affordable homes ($387k 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 | Boylston | Needham | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
32,459Highest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,402±$76Lowest 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Needham | Clinton |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Needham High | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.9 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.