Compare towns
Washington vs Needham vs Middlefield vs Florida
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k 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 | Washington | Needham | Middlefield | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526 |
32,459Highest |
352Lowest |
668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
| Middlefield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
26 min 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Needham | — | Florida |
| 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 | 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.