Compare towns
Needham vs Nelson vs Stoddard
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).
Nelson has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Nelson | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
648Lowest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Stoddard 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Nelson 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 | — | — |
| School district | Needham | Nelson School District | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.