Compare towns
Needham vs Hardwick vs Ware 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%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Hardwick | Ware | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
2,684Lowest |
6,369 |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
42.3±2.1 6% above MA |
| Hardwick 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below 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 |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$988,900±$42k 76% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,445±$895 18% below MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Quabbin | — | 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 | 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.