What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Needham	Castleton
People
Population	32,459Highest	4,453Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S.	38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average
	Needham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Castleton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.	$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.	$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.	$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Castleton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#39 of 70 in VT
School district	—	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.