Compare towns
Newfields vs Needham vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k 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 | Newfields | Needham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
32,459Highest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Needham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Needham | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.