Compare towns
Mashpee vs Needham vs Needham vs Harwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mashpee has the most affordable homes ($562k median).
Harwich has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Mashpee | Needham | Needham | Harwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,384 |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
13,598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.9±1.8 40% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
58.6±1.5Highest 47% above MA |
| Harwich and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.8%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Harwich and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,299±$13kLowest 8% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$96,966±$13k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $562,200±$29kLowest about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,776±$330Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,017±$738 14% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,189 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harwich and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.5%±3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #100 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #157 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mashpee | — | Needham | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Mashpee Middle-High School | — | Needham High | Monomoy Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.