Compare towns
Harvard vs Needham vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Harvard | Needham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Harvard and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kLowest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kLowest 48% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | — | Needham |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.