Compare towns
Oxford vs Needham vs Auburn
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 the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Auburn has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385Lowest |
32,459Highest |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn 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% |
45.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Needham 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 |
$116,711±$10k 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,467±$155 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,289 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #245 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Needham | Auburn |
| High school in town | Oxford High | Needham High | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.9 |
12.1Highest |
| 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.