Compare towns
Ira vs Needham vs Sandgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Ira | Needham | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
32,459Highest |
435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 33% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — |
| 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.