Compare towns
Cavendish vs Needham vs Reading vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Lincoln has the most homeowners (88.1%).
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 | Cavendish | Needham | Reading | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
32,459Highest |
699Lowest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
| Reading and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,100 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Reading 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Needham | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 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.