Compare towns
Needham vs Putnam vs Danielson 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 the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).
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 | Putnam | Danielson | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
9,292 |
4,209Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newton and Putnam 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% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% 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. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,235±$194 13% 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% 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% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Danielson 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Putnam School District | — | Newton |
| High school in town | Needham High | Putnam High School | — | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— | 10.8 |
| 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.