Compare towns
Stockbridge vs Needham vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (52.4%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Nahant has the most renters (21.1% rent).
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 | Stockbridge | Needham | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,056Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
60.7±2.9 52% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Stockbridge and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,250±$67k 41% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% 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 |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $858±$375Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,652Lowest 22% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest 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 | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Nahant |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.