Compare towns
Gill vs Needham vs Northfield vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1962).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Gill | Needham | Northfield | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,740 |
32,459Highest |
2,872 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±8.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gill and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,208±$14kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31k 13% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$246 16% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,318Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gill and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gill-Montague | Needham | Pioneer Valley | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Pioneer Valley Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.