Compare towns

Everett vs Sherborn vs Needham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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.

MeasureEverettSherbornNeedham
People
Population
50,045Highest
4,427Lowest
32,459
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
42.8±2.3
7% above MA
43.1±1.6Highest
8% above MA
Needham and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±2.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
29.2%±4.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
27.5%±2.2
MA: 19.4%
Sherborn and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.3%±1.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
16.3%±3.3
MA: 17.9%
17.7%±1.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
Needham and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
82.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
81.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.1%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
Everett and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7kLowest
18% below MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$214,308±$13k
106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23kLowest
9% above MA
$1,026,800±$72k
83% above MA
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69Lowest
18% above MA
$2,338±$316
33% above MA
$2,409±$183Highest
37% above MA
Needham and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,880Lowest
19% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
48%±26.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55.9%±8.5
MA: 51.8%
Everett and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.7%Highest
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1968Highest
4 yrs newer than MA
1965
1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
20% above MA
35 minHighest
21% above MA
28 minLowest
5% below MA
Work from home
10.5%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
49.1%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
32.4%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #264 of 282 in MA #53 of 282 in MA #19 of 282 in MA
School district Everett Sherborn Needham
High school in town Everett High None in town Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
—
11.9Lowest
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.