Compare towns
Somerset vs Needham vs Seekonk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerset has the most affordable homes ($419k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Seekonk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).
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 | Somerset | Needham | Seekonk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,298 |
32,459Highest |
15,694Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.2Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
46±3 15% above MA |
| Somerset and Seekonk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,677±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$120,613±$6k 16% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$482,800±$16k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,916±$165 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,977 17% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,956Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±19.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #132 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #70 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset | Needham | Seekonk |
| High school in town | Somerset Berkley Regional High School | Needham High | Seekonk High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.9Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.