Compare towns
Ira vs Needham vs Needham vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
West Haven has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Ira | Needham | Needham | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54±10.5 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$85,250±$29k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$245,000±$34kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,485 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.