Compare towns
Sullivan vs Needham vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Sullivan | Needham | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoddard and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099 63% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 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 | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.