Compare towns
Needham vs Shirley vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Shirley | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
6,976Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Shirley 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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 |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| 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.