Compare towns
Cavendish vs Needham vs Whitingham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Cavendish | Needham | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Whitingham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest 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% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% 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% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Needham | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.