Compare towns
Enfield vs Needham vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Wallingford has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Enfield | Needham | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,090 |
32,459Lowest |
44,362Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.7±1.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.6±1.8 10% above U.S. |
| Needham and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wallingford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,404±$5kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$104,773±$5k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,900±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$353,100±$8k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$83 11% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,374±$84Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,360Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,963 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #123 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #108 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District | Needham | Wallingford School District |
| High school in town | Enfield High School | Needham High | Lyman Hall High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.9 |
10.5Lowest |
| 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.