Compare towns
Needham vs Needham vs Thompson 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
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Needham | Thompson | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
32,459 |
9,337Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% 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. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Thompson School District | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
7.9Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.