Compare towns
Leverett vs Needham vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leverett has the most affordable homes ($436k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Leverett | Needham | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,608Lowest |
32,459Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Leverett and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,688±$18kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $435,500±$35kLowest 23% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$135 21% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,779Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Leverett | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.