Compare towns
Plainville vs Needham vs West Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
West Boylston has the shortest commute (25 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 | Plainville | Needham | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
32,459Highest |
7,782Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.5±2.7Highest 14% above MA |
| West Boylston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Boylston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$104,551±$12k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$440,000±$24kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197 12% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,261±$154Lowest 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,115 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Needham | West Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.