What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).

Burlington has the most affordable homes ($741k 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	Burlington
People
Population	32,459Highest	26,274Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA	45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA
	Burlington and Needham 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%	17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Burlington 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 MA: 47.3%	58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Burlington 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	$146,436±$14kLowest 41% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA	$740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA	$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA
	Burlington and Needham 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	$6,165Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Burlington 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%	5.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer 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%	22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#83 of 282 in MA
School district	Needham	Burlington
High school in town	Needham High	Burlington High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.3Lowest
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.