Compare towns
Enfield vs Needham vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Newington has the shortest commute (21 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 | Enfield | Needham | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,090Highest |
32,459 |
30,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.7±1.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.3±1.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Newington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,404±$5kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$102,884±$6k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,900±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$310,400±$9k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$83 11% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,524±$107Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,360Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,321 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #123 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #87 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District | — | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Enfield High School | — | Newington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 13.9Highest |
| 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.