Compare towns
Swanton vs Needham vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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.
| Measure | Swanton | Needham | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670 |
32,459Highest |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9 about the U.S. average |
| Needham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103 12% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370 40% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| 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.