Compare towns
Wellesley vs Hampton vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k 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 | Hampton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347 |
16,426Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 376% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 104% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Needham |
| High school in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.