Compare towns
Needham vs Rye vs Stoneham
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 highest household income ($214k).
Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k median).
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 | Rye | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
5,611Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Stoneham 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kLowest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Rye School District | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.