Compare towns
Needham vs Needham vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most affordable homes ($807k 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 | Needham | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
24,155Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Acton 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.