Compare towns
Needham vs Thompson vs Upton
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 the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Thompson | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
9,337 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Upton 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Thompson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Needham High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
7.9Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.