What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the most affordable homes ($473k median).

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rockland	Needham
People
Population	17,701Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
	Needham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,405±$12kLowest 8% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$472,900±$21kLowest 16% below MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,610±$255Lowest 9% below MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,487Lowest 8% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±10.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#175 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Rockland	Needham
High school in town	Rockland Senior High	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.