Compare towns

Wheelock vs Needham vs Glover

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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.

MeasureWheelockNeedhamGlover
People
Population
717Lowest
32,459Highest
1,051
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51±5.6Highest
31% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
48.4±5.9
24% above U.S.
Wheelock and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±5
U.S.: 22%
Needham and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.2%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Wheelock and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% below U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$73,839±$18k
9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$189,600±$37kLowest
43% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$264,700±$34k
20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$973±$130Lowest
31% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,937Lowest
6% below U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,234
4% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.3%±64.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
Work from home
21.1%±16
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.8%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Needham and Wheelock 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 — Needham Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District
High school 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

U.S. 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.