What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has the most affordable homes ($508k median).

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Freeport	Needham
People
Population	8,802Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Freeport and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S.	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S.	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freeport and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#4 of 133 in ME	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 05	Needham
High school in town	Freeport High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.