What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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	Hampden
People
Population	32,459Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S.	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Needham and Hampden 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%	25.8%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Needham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Needham and Hampden 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%	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham and Hampden 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 165% above U.S.	$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Needham	RSU 22
High school in town	Needham High	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.