Compare towns
Bridgewater Town vs Needham vs Abington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater Town has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Abington has the most renters (27.3% rent).
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 | Bridgewater Town | Needham | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,471 |
32,459Highest |
17,053Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±1.6Lowest 6% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.1±1.8 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Bridgewater Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.2%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,651±$7kLowest 8% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,400±$12k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,100±$23kLowest 5% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$539,600±$34k 4% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,092±$177 19% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,724±$250Lowest about the MA average |
| Needham and Bridgewater Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,499Lowest 8% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,045 18% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±13.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Bridgewater Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #121 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bridgewater-Raynham | — | Abington |
| High school in town | Bridgewater-Raynham Regional | — | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.1Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.