Compare towns

Middleton vs Needham vs Ogunquit vs Dighton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dighton has the most affordable homes ($502k 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.

MeasureMiddletonNeedhamOgunquitDighton
People
Population
9,816
32,459Highest
1,379Lowest
8,193
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±2
11% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
42.7±2.9Lowest
10% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.2%±3
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±4
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
18.1%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Ogunquit 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
107% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
$136,646±$19k
69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$742,700±$48k
123% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$501,900±$47kLowest
51% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,407±$284
about the U.S. average
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
—
$1,405±$192Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,785
182% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,452
107% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.7%±25.3
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.8%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
12.5%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Needham 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 #71 of 282 in MA #19 of 282 in MA — #85 of 282 in MA
School district Middleton Needham — Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth
High school in town None in town Needham High — Bristol County Agricultural High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.9
—
11.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.