What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sterling	Needham
People
Population	3,629Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+11.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average	43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S.
	Needham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Needham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Needham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S.	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S.	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,409±$183 70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Needham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 149 in CT	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Sterling School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.