Compare towns
Needham vs Grantham vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grantham has the most affordable homes ($343k 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 | Needham | Grantham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
3,465Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Needham 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% |
19.1%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
— | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,605Lowest 144% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #6 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Grantham School District | Needham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.