Compare towns
Underhill vs Needham vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has the youngest population (median age 38.1).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Westford has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
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 | Underhill | Needham | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,141 |
32,459Highest |
2,290Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Westford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,267±$54kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,000±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kLowest 68% above U.S. |
| Needham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697 115% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,282Lowest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Underhill 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.