Compare towns
Norton vs Needham vs Rehoboth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Rehoboth has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Norton | Needham | Rehoboth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240 |
32,459Highest |
13,022Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Rehoboth and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.4%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rehoboth and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$138,214±$15k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$563,000±$45k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375 8% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,195±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
| Needham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,929 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,557Lowest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±24.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rehoboth and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 12% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #173 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #208 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | Needham | Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | Norton High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| 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.