What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Norwell has the most affordable homes ($866k 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	Norwell
People
Population	32,459Highest	11,361Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Norwell 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%	16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Norwell 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%	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Norwell 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	$188,699±$25kLowest 82% above MA
	Needham and Norwell 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	$865,700±$35kLowest 54% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA	$2,215±$336Lowest 26% above MA
	Needham and Norwell 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%	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	35 minHighest 21% above MA
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Needham and Norwell 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	#80 of 282 in MA
School district	Needham	Norwell
High school in town	Needham High	Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.7Lowest
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.