Compare towns
Uxbridge vs Needham vs Sutton vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Uxbridge has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Charlton has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Uxbridge | Needham | Sutton | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,473 |
32,459Highest |
9,452Lowest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2.8Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43±4 8% above MA |
| Sutton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,725±$7k 20% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$117,587±$8kLowest 13% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $441,100±$25k 22% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,555±$265 12% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3 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 | 3.6% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #183 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Uxbridge | Needham | Sutton | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Uxbridge High | Needham High | Sutton High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.9 |
12.6Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.