Compare towns
Needham vs Bangor vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bangor has the most affordable homes ($220k 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.
| Measure | Needham | Bangor | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
31,938Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bangor 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% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$59,942±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$219,600±$10kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,055±$43Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,076Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #37 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Bangor High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
13.3Highest |
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| 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.