Compare towns
Sutton vs Needham vs Maynard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Maynard has the most renters (25% 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 | Sutton | Needham | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
32,459Highest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
| Maynard and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Maynard 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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| 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.