Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Needham vs Shutesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Shutesbury has the most homeowners (91.2%).
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 | Williamsburg | Needham | Shutesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,694 |
32,459Highest |
1,910Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4 25% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
50.2±4.5Highest 26% above MA |
| Shutesbury and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shutesbury and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Shutesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$123,333±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$376,100±$21kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,721±$111 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,642 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
40%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
91.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±7.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Shutesbury 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 | Williamsburg | — | Shutesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.