Compare towns
Bristol vs Needham vs Needham vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Bristol | Needham | Needham | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,220 |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
11,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
49±2.9Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$90,729±$12kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$25k 46% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$395,700±$22kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,363±$96Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,393Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,474 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.6%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #31 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Bristol Warren | — | Needham | Highlander · Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Mt. Hope High School | — | Needham High | Highlander Secondary Charter S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
— | 11.9Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.