Compare towns
Needham vs Northampton vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).
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 | Northampton | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
30,962Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
| Needham and Newton 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% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Northampton 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% |
62.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% 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 |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
| Needham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton 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 MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% below MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Northampton High | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.