Compare towns
Hanson vs Middleton vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k median).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Hanson | Middleton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
9,816Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Needham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Middleton | Needham |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.