Compare towns
Paxton vs Needham vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Paxton | Needham | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
32,459Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | — | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
| 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.