What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stockbridge has the most people working from home (52.4%).

Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).

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	Stockbridge	Needham
People
Population	2,056Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,250±$67kLowest 41% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
	Needham and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$600,000±$99kLowest 7% above MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$858±$375Lowest 51% below MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,652Lowest 22% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Stockbridge and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 33% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stockbridge 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

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.