Compare towns
Needham vs Oakham vs Otis
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%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Otis has the most affordable homes ($397k 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 | Oakham | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,639 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis and Oakham 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% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Oakham 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 |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$396,700±$40kLowest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Needham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Otis 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 | — | — |
| School district | Needham | Quabbin | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| 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.