Compare towns
Naples vs Needham vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Naples has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Bethel has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Naples | Needham | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,985 |
32,459Highest |
2,617Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.8±6.8 28% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.2±6.4Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Bethel and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.3%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethel and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,188±$13k 3% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$58,929±$23kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$344,900±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,941±$625 37% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$864±$43Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Needham and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,835 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.3%±15.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Naples and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.7%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.7%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #118 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #49 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Needham | RSU 44/MSAD 44 |
| High school in town | Lake Region High School | Needham High | Telstar High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.9Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.