Compare towns
Needham vs Chilmark vs Concord
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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Concord has the most people working from home (36.1%).
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 | Chilmark | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,578Lowest |
18,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
47.6±2 19% above MA |
| Chilmark and Concord 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% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Concord 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% |
68.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord 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 |
$168,750±$28kLowest 62% above MA |
$195,350±$22k 88% above MA |
| Needham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72k 115% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,631±$166 49% above MA |
| Chilmark and Concord 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% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Concord 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% |
4.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord 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 | — | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Up-Island Regional | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.