Compare towns
Needham vs Upton 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%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Upton | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
8,189Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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 MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Marblehead 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 |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Needham High | Blackstone Valley | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.2 |
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.