Compare towns
Stoddard vs Stoneham vs Needham vs Nelson
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).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Nelson has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Stoneham | Needham | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,072 |
23,355 |
32,459Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Stoneham 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. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Nelson 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Stoneham | Needham | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.