Compare towns
Jackson vs Needham vs Sugar Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Sugar Hill has the most affordable homes ($640k 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 | Jackson | Needham | Sugar Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897 |
32,459Highest |
658Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5 56% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.8±2.1Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Sugar Hill and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.2%±12.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sugar Hill and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$154,091±$32k 91% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109k 116% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$639,700±$50kLowest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,208±$630Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Needham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,340 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Sugar Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Jackson 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 | Jackson School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.