Compare towns
Needham vs Wayne vs Winthrop 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
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Winthrop has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Wayne | Winthrop | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
1,101Lowest |
6,191 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.6±5.3 12% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$86,470±$4kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$294,800±$41kLowest 11% below 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. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$892±$319Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,506 12% 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% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±22.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Winthrop 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #12 of 133 in ME | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RSU 38 | Winthrop Public Schools | Newton |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Winthrop High School | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Highest |
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.