Compare towns
Middlefield vs Needham vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Middlefield | Needham | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
32,459Highest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
| Middlefield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Peru and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
— |
| Middlefield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.