Compare towns
Roxbury vs Needham vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Groton has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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.
| Measure | Roxbury | Needham | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 299Lowest |
32,459Highest |
507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±17.7 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.1±16.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Groton and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Roxbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,226±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$85,625±$21k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,100±$219k about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$269,000±$45kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$2,667±$295Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Groton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,787 86% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,873Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±83.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.