Compare towns
Everett vs Newfields vs Needham vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Boston has the youngest population (median age 33.3).
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 | Everett | Newfields | Needham | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
2,023Lowest |
32,459 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boston and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2k 21% above U.S. |
| Needham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kLowest 83% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$731,700±$10k 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,147±$25 52% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 56% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Newfields School District | Needham | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | Needham High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 11.9Lowest |
18.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.