What stands out worked out from the figures below

Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k 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	Weston	Needham
People
Population	11,579Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±2.1Highest 12% above MA	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA
	Weston and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Needham and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Weston and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	84.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.8%±1.6Highest 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	$1,694,400±$263kHighest 201% above MA	$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,085±$809Lowest 18% above MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
	Needham and Weston 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	69%±23Highest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Weston and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	3.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	29.1%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Needham and Weston 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	#9 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Weston	Needham
High school in town	Weston High	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	11.9Highest
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.