Compare towns
Hancock vs Needham vs New Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
New Ashford has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Hancock | Needham | New Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 752 |
32,459Highest |
257Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
57.1±3.6Highest 43% above MA |
| New Ashford and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.6%±6.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
34.2%±8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| New Ashford and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±6.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and New Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$26kLowest 7% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$102,188±$30k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,500±$21kLowest 33% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$390,700±$50k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,268±$415 28% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$960±$113Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,196 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 25% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.1%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hancock | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.