Compare towns
Stoneham vs Needham vs Woburn
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 highest household income ($214k).
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
32,459 |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$673,500±$17k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,221±$77 26% above MA |
| Needham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Needham | Woburn |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Needham High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.