Compare towns
Morris vs Needham vs Middlefield vs Bethlehem
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 most homeowners (89.4%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% 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 | Morris | Needham | Middlefield | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
32,459Highest |
4,243 |
3,423 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.6±1.9 33% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
| Morris and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlefield 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. |
$99,837±$20kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,000±$60k 19% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$376,000±$27kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$134 15% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,273Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,853 120% above U.S. |
$5,932 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% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #65 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 20 | Needham | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | 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.