Compare towns
Madison vs Needham vs Freedom
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 the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
32,459Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Madison 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% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest 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% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074 31% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% 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% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom 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% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Needham | Freedom 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.