Compare towns
Middlesex vs Needham vs Monkton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Monkton has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Middlesex | Needham | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.1±5.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$119,688±$28k 48% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$379,900±$18k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,301±$120Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,887Lowest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±64Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monkton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Needham | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| 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.