Compare towns
Needham vs Peacham vs Reading
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | Peacham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
887 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7 29% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peacham and Reading 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% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$302,000±$64kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,605Lowest 80% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Peacham 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Peacham School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.