Compare towns
Wales vs Needham vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wales has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Wales | Needham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,929 |
32,459Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
| Chester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wales and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,006±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,200±$26k 47% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,534 24% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,522Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wales and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Wales | Needham | Gateway |
| High school in town | None 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 |
MA 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.