Compare towns
York vs Needham vs Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
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 | York | Needham | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,986 |
32,459Highest |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±5.2 27% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| York and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,250±$25k 50% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $636,400±$30k 91% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,490±$336Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
| Needham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,658 49% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| York and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | York Public Schools | Needham | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | York High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| 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.