Compare towns
Stoddard vs Needham vs Dedham vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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.
| Measure | Stoddard | Needham | Dedham | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,072 |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoddard and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| 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.