Compare towns
Edgartown vs Needham vs Marion
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Edgartown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Marion has the most affordable homes ($654k 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 | Edgartown | Needham | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,278Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±8.6 30% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
| Marion and Edgartown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±8.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Edgartown and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,236±$33kLowest 20% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,199,300±$262kHighest 113% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$653,500±$47kLowest 16% above MA |
| Edgartown and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,796±$470 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
| Needham and Edgartown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,641Lowest 6% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,766 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±35.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 12 minLowest 60% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.6%±15.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Edgartown 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 | #242 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edgartown | Needham | Marion |
| 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 |
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.