What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plaistow 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	Plaistow
People
Population	32,459Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S.	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Needham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Needham and Plaistow 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 U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham and Plaistow 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.	$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.	$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.	$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$7,194Lowest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Needham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Needham	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Needham High	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.4Lowest
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.