Compare towns
Millis vs Needham vs Sutton vs Medfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millis has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Medfield has the highest household income ($219k).
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 | Millis | Needham | Sutton | Medfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,888 |
32,459Highest |
9,452 |
6,849Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
45.7±5.4 14% above MA |
| Millis and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
72.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$218,946±$34kHighest 111% above MA |
| Medfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$815,300±$46k 45% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,014±$531 14% above MA |
| Needham and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±17.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±6.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Medfield 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #26 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Needham | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Needham High | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.9 |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.