Compare towns
Morris vs Needham vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Morris has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Morris | Needham | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
32,459Highest |
7,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$25k 35% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,000±$60k 19% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$134 15% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,273Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 20 | — | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.