Compare towns
Rupert vs Needham vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k 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 | Rupert | Needham | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
32,459Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| 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.