Compare towns
Needham vs Plainfield vs Needham 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
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Plainfield | Needham | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
1,314Lowest |
32,459 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% 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. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Needham | Newton |
| High school in town | — | — | Needham High | 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.