Compare towns
Danby vs Needham vs Salisbury vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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.
| Measure | Danby | Needham | Salisbury | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
32,459Highest |
1,200 |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Wardsboro 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Danby 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. |
$99,688±$21k 23% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51k 8% below U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,443±$984 about the U.S. average |
$1,479±$224 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,842 55% above U.S. |
$4,345Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | 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.