Compare towns
Newfields vs Needham vs Marblehead
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 affordable homes ($646k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
32,459Highest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Needham 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. |
$182,132±$28kLowest 126% 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±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,309Lowest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Marblehead 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% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marblehead and Needham 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 | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newfields School District | Needham | Marblehead |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.