Compare towns
Newfields vs Needham vs Stoneham vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Newfields | Needham | Stoneham | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,355 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Needham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Needham | Stoneham | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.