Compare towns
Tunbridge vs Needham vs Cavendish vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tunbridge has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Tunbridge | Needham | Cavendish | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,253 |
32,459Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±8.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cavendish and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,464±$26k 11% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,300±$23k 5% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,346±$128 5% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,645 49% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tunbridge and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.