Compare towns
Norwell vs Needham vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwell has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($743k median).
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 | Norwell | Needham | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361Lowest |
32,459Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Needham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,699±$25kLowest 82% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
| Needham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $865,700±$35k 54% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$743,400±$46kLowest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336 26% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA |
| Needham and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell 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% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Groton 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Needham | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Needham High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
11.9 |
13.7Highest |
| 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.