What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Needham	Thornton
People
Population	32,459Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.	51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thornton and Needham 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%	46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham and Thornton 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.	$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.	$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.	$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thornton 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 U.S.: 12.5%	9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	29.8%±9.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Needham and Thornton 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	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Thornton School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.