Compare towns
Franklin vs Needham vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Pittsfield has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Franklin | Needham | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799 |
32,459Highest |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Needham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,648±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$74,318±$14k 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$294,800±$30k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,239±$182 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,694 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | Needham | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Needham High | Pittsfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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| 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.