What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woburn has the most affordable homes ($674k median).

Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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	Woburn	Needham
People
Population	41,939Highest	32,459Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$673,500±$17kLowest 20% above MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,221±$77Lowest 26% above MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
	Needham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,354Lowest 11% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 13% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#169 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Woburn	Needham
High school in town	Woburn High	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	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.