Compare towns
Needham vs Erving vs Dedham 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%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Erving | Dedham | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,703Lowest |
25,237 |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.3±2.1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Erving 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% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 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%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
83.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham 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 106% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% 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 |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$988,900±$42k 76% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,445±$895 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Erving | Dedham | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | Dedham High | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.