Compare towns
Needham vs Upton vs Wellesley 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%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Sudbury has the most homeowners (89.9%).
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 | Upton | Wellesley | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
8,189Lowest |
30,347 |
19,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below 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% |
23.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
83.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$236,250±$17k 127% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$988,900±$42k 76% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,445±$895 18% below MA |
| Wellesley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Needham High | Blackstone Valley | — | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— | 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.