What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Arlington has the most affordable homes ($319k 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	Arlington
People
Population	32,459Highest	2,598Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S.	37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Needham and Arlington 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%	20.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Arlington 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%	55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham and Arlington 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.	$102,308±$11kLowest 27% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.	$318,500±$59kLowest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.	$1,191±$172Lowest 16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Arlington 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	#50 of 70 in VT
School district	Needham	Arlington School District
High school in town	Needham High	Arlington Memorial
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.6Lowest
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.