Compare towns

Deerfield vs Ogunquit vs Needham vs Lee

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k 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.

MeasureDeerfieldOgunquitNeedhamLee
People
Population
5,158
1,379Lowest
32,459Highest
5,719
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.8±3.6
33% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
55.2±5.8
42% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.2%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±5
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±6.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.9%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Deerfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,136±$14k
31% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$83,750±$13kLowest
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$414,900±$37k
25% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$352,700±$19kLowest
6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,334±$318Lowest
6% below U.S.
—
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,375±$212
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,824
87% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,980Lowest
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.1%±15.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
57.3%±21.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lee and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
33% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
18 min
31% below U.S.
Work from home
17.5%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±7.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit 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 #156 of 282 in MA — #19 of 282 in MA #209 of 282 in MA
School district Deerfield · Frontier — Needham Lee
High school in town Frontier Regional — Needham High Lee Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
—
11.9Highest
9.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.