Compare towns
Pascoag vs Needham vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pascoag has the most affordable homes ($365k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 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 | Pascoag | Needham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,410Lowest |
32,459Highest |
7,195 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±3.7 about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Needham and Pascoag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Pascoag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pascoag and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,369±$34k 50% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,000±$47kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,319±$444 7% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,395Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±27.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #14 of 38 in RI |
| School district | — | — | Exeter-West Greenwich |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.