Compare towns
Eden vs Needham vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eden has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Franklin has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Eden | Needham | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,351Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±1.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9 about the U.S. average |
| Needham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,578±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,900±$27kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,300±$441 8% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,313Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,384 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Needham | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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 |
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.