What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Needham	Newton
People
Population	32,459Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA	42.1±0.9Lowest 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%	20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest 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%	81.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA	$190,304±$9kLowest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% 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	$2,370±$81Lowest 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	43.3%±4.5Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10%	4.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	70%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	32.2%±2Lowest 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	#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 Our Story	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.