What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peterborough has the most affordable homes ($405k 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	Peterborough
People
Population	32,459Highest	6,408Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.	52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	62.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.	$98,401±$8kLowest 22% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.	$404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.	$1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$8,655Lowest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	23 minLowest 15% below U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#59 of 120 in NH
School district	Needham	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	Needham High	Conval Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.