Compare towns
Needham vs Northbridge vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Northbridge | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
16,458 |
15,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Northbridge 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% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Whitman 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 |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Needham 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Northbridge | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Needham High | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.8Lowest |
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| 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.