Compare towns
Needham vs Reading vs Woburn
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%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
25,612Lowest |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Woburn 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 |
$111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$673,500±$17kLowest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,221±$77 26% above MA |
| Needham and Woburn 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Reading 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 | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Reading | Woburn |
| High school in town | Needham High | Reading Memorial High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.