Compare towns
Needham vs Putnam vs Brooklyn
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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Putnam | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
9,292 |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Needham 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Needham | Putnam School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Needham High | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.