Compare towns
Needham vs Boxborough vs Hull
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).
Boxborough has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Boxborough | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
5,496Lowest |
10,138 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
80.6% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Needham 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 |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,887±$173Lowest 7% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
| Needham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.