Compare towns
Springfield vs Needham vs Grantham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Springfield | Needham | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Needham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.