Compare towns
Montville vs Needham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montville has the most affordable homes ($286k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Salem has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Montville | Needham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,950 |
32,459Highest |
4,282Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.8±4.1 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±5.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Needham and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Montville and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,454±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$123,245±$8k 53% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,600±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$403,600±$33k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,187±$99Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,440±$150 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,565Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,668 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Montville School District | Needham | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Montville High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.