Compare towns
Whately vs Needham vs Conway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Conway has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Whately | Needham | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,755 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
| Conway and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Conway and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$97,250±$11kLowest 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,800±$990 about the MA average |
| Needham and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,797 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Conway 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Needham | Conway |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.