Compare towns
Needham vs Plainfield vs Wellesley
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k 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 | Plainfield | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
616Lowest |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
| Wellesley and Needham 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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Wellesley 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Wellesley 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 | — | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | — |
| 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.