Compare towns
Stoddard vs Needham vs Washington
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 most affordable homes ($330k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 55).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4 36% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Washington and Stoddard 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% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$89,453±$12kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,321 39% 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% |
0%±88.9Lowest 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Needham | Washington 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.