Compare towns
Lowell vs Needham vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
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 | Lowell | Needham | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
32,459 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above 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 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% 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 | $429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lowell | Needham | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.