Compare towns
Epping vs Chilmark vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Epping | Chilmark | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
1,578Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
53.6±8.1Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Chilmark and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chilmark and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$168,750±$28k 109% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,750±$2kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Chilmark and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 122% above U.S. |
$4,485Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Chilmark 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Epping School District | Up-Island Regional | Needham |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| 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.