Compare towns
Richmond vs Needham vs Lenox
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering RichmondHancock
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most homeowners (90.2%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Lenox has the most affordable homes ($467k median).
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 | Richmond | Needham | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,403Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,079 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.1±3Highest 55% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
60.1±4.3 50% above MA |
| Richmond and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 37.8%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.6% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$24k about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $584,500±$51k 4% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$299 10% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14%±36.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Richmond | — | Lenox |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Lenox Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.6 |
| 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.