Compare towns
Stoneham vs Needham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Stoneham | Needham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Needham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.