Compare towns
Needham vs Suffield vs Wakefield
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).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Suffield | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
15,702Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wakefield 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% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Suffield 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. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Suffield School District | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Suffield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.