Compare towns
Concord vs Needham vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most people working from home (36.1%).
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 | Concord | Needham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223Lowest |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22kLowest 88% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
| Concord and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
| Concord 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 |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Needham 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | — | Needham |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| 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.