Compare towns
Needham vs Plainfield vs Sterling
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).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
15,141 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Needham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Plainfield 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Needham | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Needham High | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.