Compare towns
Hill vs Needham vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hill has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Hill | Needham | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 908Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.9±5.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hill and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,125±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$113,750±$41k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,700±$41kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$452,300±$30k 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,289±$198Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,933Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,731 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hill School District | Needham | Winnisquam Regional 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.