Compare towns
Needham vs Brewster 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%).
Brewster has the most affordable homes ($708k 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 | Brewster | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
10,420Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$707,700±$51kLowest 26% 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 |
$1,589±$465Lowest 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster 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% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% below MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Brewster | 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 |
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.