Compare towns
Monkton vs Needham vs Needham vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monkton has the most homeowners (96.6%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Monkton | Needham | Needham | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,999 |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
1,486Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±5.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,688±$28k 48% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,900±$18k 14% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$339,300±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,301±$120 8% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,887 89% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,560Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±64Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monkton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | — | Needham | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.