Compare towns
Wellesley vs Marblehead vs Needham vs Wellesley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marblehead has the most affordable homes ($944k 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 | Marblehead | Needham | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,347 |
20,413Lowest |
32,459Highest |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$943,900±$31kLowest 68% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Needham 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Marblehead | Needham | Wellesley |
| High school in town | — | Marblehead High | Needham High | Wellesley Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
10.8 |
| 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.