Compare towns
Wellesley vs Fall River vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Wellesley | Fall River | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347Lowest |
94,082Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Wellesley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Wellesley 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Needham |
| High school in town | — | B M C Durfee High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.