Compare towns
Leicester vs Needham vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leicester has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k 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 | Leicester | Needham | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
| Leicester and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pawlet and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$30k 13% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,700±$107k 7% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$266,200±$44kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,098±$300Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,153±$215 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,924 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.