Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Needham vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Lunenburg | Needham | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
32,459Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Douglas and Lunenburg 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% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586 12% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
| Needham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 7% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #87 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Needham | Douglas |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Needham High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
11.9 |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.