Compare towns
Needham vs Rowley vs Marblehead
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%).
Rowley has the most affordable homes ($667k median).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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 | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
6,251Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
| Rowley and Marblehead 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% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Triton | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.