Compare towns
Hatfield vs Ogunquit vs Needham vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Needham | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
1,379Lowest |
32,459Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 10% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28k 75% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,032±$350 44% above U.S. |
| Needham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 58% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,266 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #198 of 282 in MA | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | — | Needham | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | — | Needham High | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.