Compare towns
Maynard vs Chilmark vs Needham vs Sudbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sudbury has the highest household income ($236k).
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 | Maynard | Chilmark | Needham | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
1,578Lowest |
32,459Highest |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.3±2.1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Chilmark and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sudbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
83.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$236,250±$17kHighest 127% above MA |
| Sudbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$988,900±$42k 76% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,445±$895Lowest 18% below MA |
| Chilmark and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sudbury 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Up-Island Regional | Needham | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | Needham High | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.