What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Needham	Gardner
People
Population	32,459Highest	21,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
	Gardner 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 MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner 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 MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Gardner 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	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Gardner 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%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Needham	Gardner
High school in town	Needham High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.