Compare towns
Webster vs Needham vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Richmond has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Webster | Needham | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
32,459Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.2±12.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$89,375±$27kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$313,400±$26kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,203Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | — | — |
| High school 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.