Compare towns
Danby vs Mount Tabor vs Needham vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k 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 | Danby | Mount Tabor | Needham | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
304Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
— | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$420,500±$76k 26% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$266,200±$44kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$2,143±$367 52% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,153±$215 18% below U.S. |
| Needham and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$5,233 68% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,924Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Needham | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.