Compare towns
Needham vs Chilmark vs Maynard
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%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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 | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,578Lowest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
| Chilmark and Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Maynard 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 |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Maynard 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% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Chilmark 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 | — | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Up-Island Regional | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.