Compare towns
North Reading vs Needham vs Littleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Reading has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Littleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
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 | North Reading | Needham | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765 |
32,459Highest |
10,280Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.5±2Highest 9% above MA |
| Littleton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$149,722±$31k 44% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$658,300±$40kLowest 17% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,016±$507Lowest 14% above MA |
| Needham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693 62% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,458Lowest 58% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.7%±13.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | — | Littleton |
| High school in town | North Reading High | — | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.