Compare towns
Burke vs Needham vs Shrewsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burke has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Shrewsbury has the most homeowners (95.2%).
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 | Burke | Needham | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,317 |
32,459Highest |
1,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±4.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.3±5.6 9% above U.S. |
| Needham and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shrewsbury and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,143±$17kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$91,250±$23k 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,600±$18k about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$331,900±$52kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$191Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,438±$380 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,177Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,350 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.6%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burke and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.4%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Burke 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.