Compare towns
Needham vs Reading vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Reading | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
25,612 |
24,155Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Acton and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Acton 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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 MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Acton 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 106% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
| Needham and Reading 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 |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Reading | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Needham High | Reading Memorial High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.1 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.