Compare towns
Needham vs Needham vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westford has the most affordable homes ($749k 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 | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
24,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.8±1.2Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
73.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$187,198±$10kLowest 80% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$748,500±$32kLowest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,436±$422Highest 38% above MA |
| Westford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,695Lowest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
27%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #20 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Westford Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.