Compare towns
Needham vs Dunbarton 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%).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k 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 | Dunbarton | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
3,097Lowest |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
42.3±2.1Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest 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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
39.6%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% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kLowest 54% 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. |
$484,100±$33kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$988,900±$42k 197% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,445±$895 about the U.S. average |
| Needham and Sudbury 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 221% above U.S. |
$8,233Lowest 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Dunbarton School District | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.