Compare towns
Middleton vs Needham vs Groveland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Groveland has the most affordable homes ($611k 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 | Middleton | Needham | Groveland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816 |
32,459Highest |
6,777Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Groveland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Groveland and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$141,487±$12kLowest 36% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$610,900±$36kLowest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,825±$1k 4% above MA |
| Needham and Groveland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,593Lowest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±38.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Groveland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.1%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #71 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #187 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Needham | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
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| 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.