Compare towns
Westford 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
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Groton has the most homeowners (88.8%).
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 | Westford | Needham | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,690 |
32,459Highest |
11,390Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±1.2 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Needham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.6%±2.4Lowest 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%±1.9Lowest 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+ | 73.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $187,198±$10kLowest 80% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
| Needham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $748,500±$32k 33% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$743,400±$46kLowest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,436±$422Highest 38% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA |
| Westford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,695Lowest 62% 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 | 53%±8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 27%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Groton 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 | #20 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford | — | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Westford Academy | — | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 13.7Lowest |
| 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.