Compare towns
Oxford vs Needham vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Charlton has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | Oxford | Needham | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385Lowest |
32,459Highest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
43±4 8% above MA |
| Needham and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$117,587±$8k 13% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622 23% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #245 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Oxford High | — | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.