Compare towns
Hatfield vs Needham vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Hatfield | Needham | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,770±$444 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #198 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.