Compare towns
Tunbridge vs Needham vs Chelsea
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 most homeowners (84.2%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Chelsea has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Tunbridge | Needham | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,253 |
32,459Highest |
1,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest 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. |
54.1±12.1Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Chelsea 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% |
29.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Chelsea 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. |
$65,913±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,300±$23k 5% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$260,900±$39kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,346±$128Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,524±$467 8% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,645 49% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,762Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.3%±33.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tunbridge and Chelsea 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% |
14.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest 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 | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None 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.