What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has the most affordable homes ($933k median).

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Milton	Needham
People
Population	28,587Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
	Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.3%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$188,529±$15kLowest 81% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
	Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$933,200±$31kLowest 66% above MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,677Lowest 61% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Needham and Milton 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	#55 of 282 in MA	#19 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 Our Story	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.