Compare towns
Needham vs Springfield vs Temple
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Temple has the most renters (17.8% 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 | Springfield | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,363 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Temple 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Needham | — | Contoocook Valley 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 |
U.S. 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.