Compare towns
Needham vs Suffield vs Wolcott 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).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Suffield | Wolcott | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
15,702Lowest |
16,279 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.4±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Wolcott 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newton and Wolcott 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% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$110,850±$10kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,464±$913 4% above 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. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$5,799Lowest 86% 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% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±24.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #76 of 149 in CT | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Suffield School District | Wolcott School District | Newton |
| High school in town | Needham High | Suffield High School | Wolcott High School | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.9 |
10.1Lowest |
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.