Compare towns
Needham vs Needham vs Upton vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Upton | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
32,459 |
8,189Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
| Upton 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 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%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% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$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% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 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 |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Blackstone Valley | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.2 |
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.