Compare towns
Needham vs Monroe vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k 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 | Monroe | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
122Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
— | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe 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% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
— | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
— | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.