Compare towns
Needham vs Danvers vs Douglas vs Sudbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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 | Danvers | Douglas | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
28,098 |
9,207Lowest |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.3±2.1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Danvers and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 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+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% 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 | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$988,900±$42k 76% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,445±$895Lowest 18% below MA |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Douglas | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Needham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Douglas High School | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.8Highest |
7.2Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 5 photos → |
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.