Compare towns
Wilmington vs Needham vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilmington has the most homeowners (88.1%).
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.
| Measure | Wilmington | Needham | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,336 |
32,459Highest |
15,765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
| Needham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,152±$19k 62% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,500±$19kLowest 21% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,394±$328 36% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,259±$356Lowest 28% above MA |
| Needham and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,704Lowest 29% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,693 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and North Reading 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 | #73 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wilmington | Needham | North Reading |
| High school in town | Wilmington High | Needham High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
10.1 |
| 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.