Compare towns
Casco vs Needham vs Naples vs Whitefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Casco has the oldest population (median age 52).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Casco | Needham | Naples | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,696 |
32,459Highest |
3,985 |
2,157Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52±3.3Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.8±6.8 28% above U.S. |
51.9±5.2 33% above U.S. |
| Casco and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±7.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitefield and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,313±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$78,188±$13k 3% below U.S. |
$73,875±$10k 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$58k 7% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$340,100±$48k about the U.S. average |
$242,300±$24kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$184 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,941±$625 37% above U.S. |
$895±$126Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Needham and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,085 about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,784 11% below U.S. |
$2,366Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±35.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±22.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Naples and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.6%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±11.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Naples 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Needham | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Lake Region High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.