Compare towns
Needham vs Cumberland vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cumberland has the most affordable homes ($431k 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 | Cumberland | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Lowest |
36,820Highest |
32,459Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Cumberland 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cumberland 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,379±$109Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #18 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Cumberland High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
13.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.