Compare towns
Rochester vs Needham vs Marion
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($599k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Marion has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Rochester | Needham | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,837 |
32,459Highest |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
| Marion and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $120,273±$12kLowest 16% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$653,500±$47k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,432±$743 19% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #104 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Needham | Marion |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| 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.