What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k median).

Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cohasset	Needham
People
Population	8,427Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1% MA: +7.4%	+11.1% MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±4.4Highest 10% above MA	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA
	Cohasset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Needham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Cohasset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$199,306±$53kLowest 92% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
	Needham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA	$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA
	Cohasset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA	$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA
	Cohasset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±15.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest MA: 10%	3.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 28% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	25.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Needham and Cohasset 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	#41 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Cohasset	Needham
High school in town	Cohasset High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.