What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).

Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Wenham
People
Population	32,459Highest	4,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA	29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Wenham 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%	70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA	$194,781±$33kLowest 87% above MA
	Needham and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA	$885,400±$48kLowest 58% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183 37% above MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7% MA: 10%	3.7% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	29.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Needham and Wenham 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	#74 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Hamilton-Wenham
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.