Compare towns
Stoneham vs Needham vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
32,459Highest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Acton and Needham 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% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Acton 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 |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Acton 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% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Needham 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 | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Needham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Needham High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.9 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.