Compare towns
Medfield vs Needham vs Sherborn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medfield has the most affordable homes ($911k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
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 | Medfield | Needham | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,068 |
32,459Highest |
4,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
| Needham and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $235,800±$32k 127% above MA |
$214,308±$13kLowest 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $911,100±$32kLowest 62% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,026,800±$72k 83% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$559Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,338±$316 33% above MA |
| Needham and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Medfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sherborn and Medfield 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 | #26 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medfield | Needham | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Medfield Senior High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.