What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Needham	Sturbridge
People
Population	32,459Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge 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 MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Sturbridge 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 106% above MA	$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7% MA: 10%	3.7% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Needham	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Needham High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.