Compare towns
Campton vs Stoneham vs Needham 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%).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Stoneham | Needham | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,407 |
23,355 |
32,459Highest |
2,799Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7 26% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% 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% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±10.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 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. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,300±$38k 7% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,028 93% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.6%±44.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 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 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Campton School District | Stoneham | Needham | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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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.