Compare towns
Boylston vs Needham vs Northborough
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).
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 | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
32,459Highest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45±3 13% above MA |
| Boylston and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
65.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28kLowest 36% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$153,199±$19k 47% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$620,000±$24k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,919±$269Lowest 9% above MA |
| Needham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,983 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Northborough 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Needham | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Needham High | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.9Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.