Compare towns
Needham vs Townsend vs Uxbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Uxbridge has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Townsend | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
9,100Lowest |
14,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.7±2.8 4% above MA |
| Needham and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Townsend 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Townsend 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 106% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$124,725±$7k 20% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$441,100±$25k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,555±$265 12% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$5,836Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.