Compare towns
Braintree vs Needham vs Granville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Granville has the most homeowners (87.4%).
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 | Braintree | Needham | Granville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
32,459Highest |
414Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.8±7.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Granville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$60,500±$21kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$233,300±$40k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,163±$184 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,914Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.8%±70.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.9%±15 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Granville 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.