Compare towns
Needham vs Needham vs Townsend vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
32,459 |
9,100Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Newton and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% 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 |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | North Middlesex | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | North Middlesex Regional | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
13.1Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.