Compare towns
Needham vs Concord 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Concord has the most people working from home (36.1%).
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 | Needham | Concord | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
18,223Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Concord 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% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$195,350±$22k 88% above MA |
$190,304±$9kLowest 83% above MA |
| Needham and Concord 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 |
$1,210,000±$72k 115% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
| Newton and Concord 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 |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$2,370±$81Lowest 35% above MA |
| Concord 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% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Needham 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Concord Carlisle High | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
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.