Compare towns
Needham vs Needham vs Wellesley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k 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 | Needham | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
30,347Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kLowest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kLowest 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
| Wellesley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.