Compare towns
Needham vs Needham vs Williston 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
Williston has the most affordable homes ($476k 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 | Williston | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
32,459 |
10,144Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%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. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% 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. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above 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. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.