Compare towns
Needham vs East Hampton vs Watertown
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 expensive homes ($1189k median).
East Hampton has the most homeowners (85.5%).
Watertown has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | East Hampton | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
12,925Lowest |
22,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.6±3.7 12% above U.S. |
46.3±2.9Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Watertown and East Hampton 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% |
21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Watertown and East Hampton 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% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$124,577±$11k 54% above U.S. |
$101,691±$7kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$349,000±$14k 5% above U.S. |
$333,500±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,393±$150 about the U.S. average |
$1,275±$227Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,681 114% above U.S. |
$6,014Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Watertown and Needham 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #75 of 149 in CT | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | East Hampton School District | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | — | East Hampton High School | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.