Compare towns
Campton vs Needham vs Stoneham vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Campton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Thornton has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Campton | Needham | Stoneham | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,407 |
32,459Highest |
23,355 |
2,799Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7 26% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±6.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±10.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Campton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Campton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,870±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,300±$38k 7% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,028 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.6%±44.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Campton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Thornton 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 | #68 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Campton School District | Needham | Stoneham | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.