Compare towns
Needham vs Bolton 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 the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Bolton | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
5,737Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 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% |
25%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Newton and Needham 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% |
81.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$205,449±$31k 98% above MA |
$190,304±$9kLowest 83% above MA |
| Needham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$796,000±$49kLowest 42% above 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 |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% 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+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Needham 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Nashoba | Newton |
| High school in town | Needham High | Nashoba Regional | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.0Highest |
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.