Compare towns
Wrentham vs Needham vs Upton 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
Wrentham has the most renters (18% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
North Reading has the youngest population (median age 43).
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 | Wrentham | Needham | Upton | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,297 |
32,459Highest |
8,189Lowest |
15,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
| Wrentham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wrentham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,676±$17k 46% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $654,900±$26k 17% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$628 33% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
| Needham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,373Lowest 23% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$9,693 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Wrentham | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Reading |
| High school in town | King Philip Regional High | Needham High | Blackstone Valley | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.9 |
11.2 |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.