Compare towns
Putney vs Needham vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Putney | Needham | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
32,459Highest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marblehead and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28k 126% above U.S. |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,309 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marblehead 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #19 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Needham | Marblehead |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.