Compare towns

Needham vs Hermon 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

Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).

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.

MeasureNeedhamHermonNeedham
People
Population
32,459Highest
6,727Lowest
32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+19.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±1.6Highest
11% above U.S.
41.1±4.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Highest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hermon 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%
37.6%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%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$96,629±$22kLowest
20% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$333,600±$32kLowest
about the U.S. average
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,406±$202Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$2,761Lowest
11% below U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
28.2%±19.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
2000Highest
20 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
14% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.8%±4.2Lowest
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 #54 of 133 in ME #19 of 282 in MA
School district — Hermon Public Schools Needham
High school in town — Hermon High School Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.6Highest
11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.