Compare towns
Needham vs Strafford vs Sudbury
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Needham | Strafford | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
4,306Lowest |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.3±2.1Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sudbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$236,250±$17kHighest 193% above U.S. |
| Sudbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$988,900±$42k 197% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$1,445±$895Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.