Compare towns
Marlow vs Needham vs Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hill has the most affordable homes ($312k 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 | Marlow | Needham | Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
32,459Highest |
908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.1±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$82,125±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$311,700±$41kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,933Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Needham | Hill 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 | 4 photos → | 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.