Compare towns
Foster vs Needham vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Foster | Needham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523 |
32,459Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Foster and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Lowest 7% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Needham | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.