Compare towns
Conway vs Leverett vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Leverett has the oldest population (median age 56).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Conway | Leverett | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,755 |
1,608Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Leverett and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Leverett and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,250±$11kLowest 6% below MA |
$104,688±$18k about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$435,500±$35k 23% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$990 about the MA average |
$1,389±$135Lowest 21% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Needham and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,797Lowest 3% below MA |
$6,779 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
10%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Conway 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 | Conway | Leverett | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.