What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Medfield has the most affordable homes ($911k 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	Medfield
People
Population	32,459Highest	13,068Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA	42.4±3Lowest 6% above MA
	Needham and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Medfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Medfield 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%	78.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kLowest 106% above MA	$235,800±$32kHighest 127% above MA
	Medfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA	$911,100±$32kLowest 62% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA	$2,035±$559Lowest 15% above MA
	Needham and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	63.1%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Medfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest MA: 10%	2.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	36.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Medfield and Needham 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	#26 of 282 in MA
School district	Needham	Medfield
High school in town	Needham High	Medfield Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.7Highest
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.