Compare towns
Foxborough vs Needham vs Stoneham vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foxborough has the most affordable homes ($606k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Sharon has the most homeowners (87.7%).
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 | Foxborough | Needham | Stoneham | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,615 |
32,459Highest |
23,355 |
18,574Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.5±1 6% above MA |
| Needham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,833±$9k 11% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$191,835±$19k 85% above MA |
| Needham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $606,300±$28kLowest 8% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$737,100±$33k 31% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$70Lowest 5% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,310±$345 31% above MA |
| Needham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,275 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Sharon 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 | #138 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Foxborough | Needham | Stoneham | Sharon |
| High school in town | Foxborough High | Needham High | Stoneham High | Sharon High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.