Compare towns
Needham vs Ogunquit vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Ogunquit | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,379Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.