Compare towns
Sandgate vs Needham vs Ira vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Sandgate | Needham | Ira | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
32,459Highest |
381Lowest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$2,937 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Needham | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.