Compare towns
Needham vs Lawrence vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% 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 | Needham | Lawrence | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Lowest |
88,736Highest |
32,459Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence 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 MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lawrence | Needham |
| High school in town | — | Lawrence High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.