Compare towns
Montgomery vs Needham vs Westfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most homeowners (96.3%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Westfield has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Montgomery | Needham | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 796Lowest |
32,459 |
40,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Montgomery and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Montgomery and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,000±$19k 18% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,500±$29k 36% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,283Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,746 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Westfield |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
11.9 |
| 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.