Compare towns
Newton vs Exeter vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Newton | Exeter | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
16,151Lowest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% 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 | $2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% 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. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 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 | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Needham |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Exeter High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.