Compare towns
Raynham vs Needham vs Stoneham vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Raynham | Needham | Stoneham | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,505 |
32,459Highest |
23,355 |
11,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.5 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 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 | $124,012±$16k 19% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $524,400±$29k 7% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$74Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,974±$586 12% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,752 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$6,401Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 25% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #190 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bridgewater-Raynham | Needham | Stoneham | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Stoneham High | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
10.7Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.