Compare towns
Grantham vs Needham vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Grantham | Needham | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,465 |
32,459Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 144% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Grantham School District | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.