Compare towns
Needham vs Ogunquit vs Northampton 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k 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 | Ogunquit | Northampton | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,379Lowest |
30,962 |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.3±2.1 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$429,700±$17kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$988,900±$42k 197% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | $1,439±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,680 82% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.8%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Sudbury 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 | — | #159 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | Northampton High | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | 14.7Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.