Compare towns
Needham vs Chilmark vs Wellesley
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 affordable homes ($1189k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Wellesley has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,578Lowest |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Wellesley 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% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$168,750±$28kLowest 62% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49k 182% above MA |
| Chilmark and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,750±$2k 56% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
| Wellesley and Chilmark 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% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Wellesley 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% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Wellesley 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 | — | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Up-Island Regional | Wellesley |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | Wellesley Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.