Compare towns
Sutton vs Needham vs Dunbarton vs Madison
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).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,239Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,097 |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Madison and Sutton 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% |
23.1%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Sutton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%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%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11kLowest 27% 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. |
$388,700±$36k 17% 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. |
$1,556±$256 10% above 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 | $7,652 145% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Needham 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% |
4.7% 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% |
94.4% 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. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest 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 | Madison School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Needham High | None in town | 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 | 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.