Compare towns
Wenham vs Needham vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($743k median).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Needham | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,929Lowest |
32,459Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Needham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$192,958±$27kLowest 86% above MA |
| Needham and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $885,400±$48k 58% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$743,400±$46kLowest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Wenham 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Needham | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| 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.