Compare towns
Halifax 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
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Halifax | Needham | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
32,459 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
| Needham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Newton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% 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 | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$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 | $6,840Lowest 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | 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.