Compare towns
Needham vs Ogunquit vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k 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 | Ogunquit | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,379Lowest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Walpole 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 165% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20kLowest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | $2,205±$222Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Needham and Walpole 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.