Compare towns
Florida vs Needham vs Peru vs Rowe
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 most affordable homes ($247k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Rowe has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
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 | Peru | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 668 |
32,459Highest |
630 |
453Lowest |
| 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±4.4Highest 40% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
| Florida and Peru 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% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
23%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Rowe 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% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
$275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— | $1,313±$576 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894 68% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% 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% |
11.8%±100 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Florida | Needham | — | Rowe |
| 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 | 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.