Compare towns
Leverett vs Needham vs Amherst Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering LeverettSunderland
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leverett has the oldest population (median age 56).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Amherst Town has the youngest population (median age 21.4).
Amherst Town is a college town. 59.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Leverett | Needham | Amherst Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,608Lowest |
32,459 |
38,182Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
21.4±0.2Lowest 47% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
7.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
10.1%±1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
59.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,688±$18k about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$66,968±$7kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $435,500±$35kLowest 23% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$484,900±$21k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$135Lowest 21% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,671±$93 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,779Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,787 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Leverett and Amherst Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
23.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
44.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Leverett 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 | #58 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Leverett | Needham | Amherst · Amherst-Pelham |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Amherst Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.