Compare towns
Northbridge vs Needham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Stoneham has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
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 | Northbridge | Needham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Northbridge and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Needham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Needham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.