Compare towns
Needham vs Salem vs Upton 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%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Salem | Upton | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
44,795Highest |
8,189Lowest |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.3±2.1 6% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 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% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
83.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above 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 |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$988,900±$42k 76% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,445±$895 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Salem | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Needham High | Salem High | Blackstone Valley | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.2 |
11.3 |
| 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.