Compare towns
Needham vs Chilmark vs Acton
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 highest household income ($214k).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Acton has the most affordable homes ($807k 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 | Chilmark | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,578Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Acton 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 |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
| Chilmark 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
4.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Up-Island Regional | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.