Compare towns
Needham vs Epping 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 the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k 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 | Epping | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
7,430Lowest |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.3±2.1Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
37%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% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% 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. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$988,900±$42k 197% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,445±$895Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Needham and Epping 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. |
$6,936Lowest 122% 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% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Epping School District | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Needham High | Epping High School | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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.