Compare towns
Avon vs Needham vs Stoughton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Stoughton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Avon | Needham | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
32,459Highest |
29,225 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
| Stoughton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoughton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33k 26% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62kLowest 9% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$523,800±$28k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265Lowest 12% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
| Needham and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,215Lowest 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #212 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | — | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | — | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 10.8Highest |
| 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.