Compare towns
Needham vs Douglas vs Sutton 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%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Douglas | Sutton | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
9,207Lowest |
9,452 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
| Sutton and Douglas 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% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Newton and Sutton 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% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below 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 | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Sutton 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Douglas | Sutton | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.