Compare towns
Exeter vs Stoneham vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Stoneham has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Exeter | Stoneham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Lowest |
23,355 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Stoneham | Needham |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Stoneham High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.