Compare towns
Florida vs Needham vs Monroe vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Florida has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Florida | Needham | Monroe | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 668 |
32,459Highest |
122Lowest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
| Monroe and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
— | $90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $246,800±$19k 56% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$2,053 66% below MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Florida | Needham | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.