Compare towns
Pelham vs Needham vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Williamsburg has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Pelham | Needham | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
32,459Highest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472 25% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pelham | Needham | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.