Compare towns

Northbridge vs Ogunquit vs Needham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).

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.

MeasureNorthbridgeOgunquitNeedham
People
Population
16,458
1,379Lowest
32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±2.6
13% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.1%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,319±$19kLowest
38% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$448,600±$15kLowest
35% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,207±$102Lowest
15% below U.S.
—
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,821
55% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.2%±9.8
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
16.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit 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 #226 of 282 in MA — #19 of 282 in MA
School district Northbridge — Needham
High school in town Northbridge High — Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8Lowest
—
11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.