Compare towns
Richmond vs Needham vs Monterey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most homeowners (90.2%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Monterey has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.9%).
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 | Monterey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,403 |
32,459Highest |
954Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.1±3 55% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
62.3±14Highest 56% above MA |
| Monterey and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 37.8%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
43.5%±13.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Monterey 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% |
64.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±4.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$24kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$152,353±$89k 47% above MA |
| Needham and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $584,500±$51kLowest 4% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$603,200±$57k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$299Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,762±$128 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$2,858Lowest 52% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14%±36.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±85.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 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% |
23.6%±16.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Monterey 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 | Richmond | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.