Compare towns
Needham vs Stoneham vs Suffield
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).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k 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 | Stoneham | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
23,355 |
15,702Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham and Suffield 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% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Suffield 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% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Needham | Stoneham | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Needham High | Stoneham High | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
10.9 |
| 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.