Compare towns
Newton vs Gray 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 renters (30% rent).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Newton | Gray | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
8,429Lowest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Gray 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% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%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% |
5.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% 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. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$3,683Lowest 18% 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% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— |
| 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.