Compare towns
Sutton vs Needham vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,239Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Needham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,652Lowest 145% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Needham | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.