What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($464k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lunenburg	Needham
People
Population	11,902Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA
	Lunenburg and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Lunenburg and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Lowest 12% above MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
	Needham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Lowest 7% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#87 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Lunenburg	Needham
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.