Compare towns
Needham vs Stoneham vs Sutton
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).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
23,355 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Stoneham 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% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Sutton 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. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Stoneham 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Needham | Stoneham | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Needham High | Stoneham High | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.