Compare towns
Needham vs Rowley vs Rowley
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 people working from home (32.4%).
Rowley has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Rowley | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,708Lowest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Rowley 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% |
18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Rowley 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% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Needham 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 |
$109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$614,800±$39kLowest 9% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
| Needham and Rowley 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 |
$6,865Lowest 15% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
6.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
28 minHighest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | Triton |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | None in town |
| 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.