Compare towns
Stoughton vs Needham vs Avon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoughton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Avon has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
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 | Stoughton | Needham | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,225 |
32,459Highest |
4,774Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
| Stoughton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoughton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$130,625±$33k 26% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,800±$28k 7% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$509,600±$62kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,050±$200 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,558±$265Lowest 12% below MA |
| Needham and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,215Lowest 4% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,627 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
53.3%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 15.4%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #196 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #212 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoughton | — | Avon |
| High school in town | Stoughton High | — | Avon Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| 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.