Compare towns
Washington vs Needham vs Middlefield vs Peru
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 oldest population (median age 56.9).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526 |
32,459Highest |
352Lowest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% 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 |
52.6±4.8 32% 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% |
16.3%±3.5 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% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Peru 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% |
28%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% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Peru 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 |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% 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 |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above 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 |
$3,805Lowest 36% 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest 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 |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above 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% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Needham | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — | — |
| 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.