Compare towns
Norwood vs Ogunquit vs Needham vs Beverly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwood has the most renters (46% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Beverly has the most affordable homes ($650k 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 | Norwood | Ogunquit | Needham | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,542 |
1,379Lowest |
32,459 |
42,665Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,030±$11k 33% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13kLowest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,116±$83 50% above U.S. |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,771±$106Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,111 96% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±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 | #176 of 282 in MA | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwood | — | Needham | Beverly |
| High school in town | Norwood High | — | Needham High | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 11.9 |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.