Compare towns
Heath vs Needham vs Rowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Rowe has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
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 | Heath | Needham | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
32,459Highest |
453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,313±$576Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Heath 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Rowe |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.