Compare towns
Epsom vs Needham vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Newton has the most homeowners (90.1%).
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 | Epsom | Needham | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,939 |
32,459Highest |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4 21% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Newton and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epsom and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,941±$13kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29k 72% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,124 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Needham | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.