Compare towns
Stoddard vs Needham vs Marlow
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k 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 | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
32,459Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Stoddard 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% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Stoddard 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. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Stoddard 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Needham | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.