Compare towns
Erving vs Needham vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Erving | Needham | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
32,459 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
| Erving and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
| Newton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
| Needham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Newton 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 | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Erving | Needham | Newton |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.