Compare towns
Clinton vs Needham vs Greenfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has the youngest population (median age 38.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Greenfield has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Clinton | Needham | Greenfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563Lowest |
32,459Highest |
17,664 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.6±2.1Highest 12% above MA |
| Greenfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
23.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$55,614±$7kLowest 47% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$263,100±$16kLowest 53% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,107±$67Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,769 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
63.2%±7.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Greenfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #246 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #257 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Needham | Greenfield |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Needham High | Greenfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.9 |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.