Compare towns
Needham vs Derby vs Plainfield vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).
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 | Derby | Plainfield | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
12,487Lowest |
15,141 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
| Derby 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Newton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
| Newton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
| Needham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Derby School District | Plainfield School District | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Derby High School | Plainfield High School | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
10.3 |
10.8Highest |
| 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.