Compare towns
Needham vs Fall River vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Fall River | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Lowest |
94,082Highest |
32,459Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | B M C Durfee High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.