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Needham vs Woonsocket vs Needham vs Sudbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

NeedhamNeedham, MANorfolk County · 32,459 people
WoonsocketWoonsocket, RIRhode Island · 43,521 people
Needham, MAMassachusetts · 32,459 people
SudburySudbury, MAMiddlesex County · 19,306 people

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Sudbury has the highest household income ($236k).

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.

MeasureNeedhamWoonsocketNeedhamSudbury
People
Population
32,459
43,521Highest
32,459
19,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±1.6Highest
11% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
43.1±1.6Highest
11% above U.S.
42.3±2.1
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
27.5%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
28.5%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sudbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
83.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$214,308±$13k
165% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$214,308±$13k
165% above U.S.
$236,250±$17kHighest
193% above U.S.
Sudbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$988,900±$42k
197% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,445±$895
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.8%±12.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
Work from home
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
33%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #37 of 38 in RI #19 of 282 in MA #15 of 282 in MA
School district Needham RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket — Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury
High school in town Needham High Woonsocket High School — Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9
15.2Highest
 —
11.3Lowest
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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.