Compare towns
Dudley vs Needham vs Needham vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most renters (26.9% rent).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k 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 | Dudley | Needham | Needham | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42±2.8 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$103,862±$10k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,622 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Needham | Oxford |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | Needham High | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.9 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.