Compare towns
Madison vs Needham vs Fitzwilliam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k 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 | Madison | Needham | Fitzwilliam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
32,459Highest |
2,278Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.2±4.2 26% above U.S. |
| Madison and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fitzwilliam and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$100,735±$11kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$305,900±$34kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,173 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±51.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Needham | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.