Compare towns
Milton vs Needham vs Needham vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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 | Milton | Needham | Needham | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587Lowest |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
28,587Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kLowest 81% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$188,529±$15kLowest 81% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31kLowest 66% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$933,200±$31kLowest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677Lowest 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677Lowest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Milton High | — | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.