Compare towns
Rochester vs Needham vs Southampton
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 oldest population (median age 46.5).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Southampton has the most affordable homes ($452k 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 | Rochester | Needham | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,837Lowest |
32,459Highest |
6,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.4±3.5 9% above MA |
| Rochester and Southampton 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% |
19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Southampton 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Southampton 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 |
$123,125±$23k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31k 7% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$452,300±$25kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,432±$743Lowest 19% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,470Lowest 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #104 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Needham | Southampton |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.