Compare towns
Burlington vs Middleton vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the most renters (25.8% rent).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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 | Burlington | Middleton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274 |
9,816Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Burlington and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Burlington and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,436±$14kLowest 41% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Burlington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$8,785 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Middleton | Needham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.