Compare towns
Wheelock vs Needham vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the oldest population (median age 51).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Wheelock | Needham | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 717 |
32,459Highest |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42±8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheffield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20k 20% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37k 43% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$967±$79Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937 6% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheffield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Wheelock 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.