Compare towns
Needham vs Cohasset vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k median).
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 | Needham | Cohasset | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
8,427Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.9±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
| Cohasset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Newton and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$199,306±$53k 92% above MA |
$190,304±$9kLowest 83% above MA |
| Needham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
| Cohasset and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA |
$2,370±$81Lowest 35% above MA |
| Cohasset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±15.5 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±5.3Lowest 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 | #41 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Cohasset | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Cohasset High School | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.