Compare towns
Georgetown vs Harvard vs Needham vs Millis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Georgetown has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Millis has the most affordable homes ($604k 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.
| Measure | Georgetown | Harvard | Needham | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
6,927Lowest |
32,459Highest |
8,888 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
| Millis and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.1% MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,595±$23kLowest 46% above MA |
$213,996±$24k 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
| Needham and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
| Needham and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,272Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,344 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #140 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Harvard | — | Millis |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | The Bromfield High School | — | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.0Highest |
— | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.