What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wellesley	Needham
People
Population	30,347Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	24.1%±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%	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Wellesley 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%	81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$250,001Highest 140% above MA	$214,308±$13kLowest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA	$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA	$2,409±$183Lowest 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+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 7% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	32%±2.9Lowest 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	#19 of 282 in MA
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.