Compare towns
Halifax vs Pinehurst vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Pinehurst has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Halifax | Pinehurst | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
6,845Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
42.6±2 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Needham and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Pinehurst and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$146,250±$27k 41% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$623,800±$22k 11% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$1,946±$1k 10% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Needham and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | — | 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 |
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.