Compare towns

Rupert vs Needham vs Sandgate

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).

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.

MeasureRupertNeedhamSandgate
People
Population
676
32,459Highest
435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
57.8±9.7Highest
49% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
55.7±5.4
43% above U.S.
Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±7.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
42.3%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±11.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,229±$36k
9% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$69,167±$19kLowest
14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,500±$63k
9% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$193,800±$31kLowest
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,409±$183
70% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,594
47% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$2,778Lowest
11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1965Highest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±9.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
34.6%±32.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sandgate 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 —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.