Compare towns
Milford vs Needham vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most renters (37.8% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Bellingham has the most affordable homes ($451k 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 | Milford | Needham | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,731 |
32,459Highest |
17,410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.5±1.5 4% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Milford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,310±$5kLowest 10% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,307±$10k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $464,700±$12k 17% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$133 7% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,836±$196Lowest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,664 5% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 13%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #213 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Bellingham |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.