Compare towns
Nelson vs Needham vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
South Hampton has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Nelson | Needham | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
32,459Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
| Needham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Nelson 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 | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Needham | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None 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.