Compare towns
Newton vs Newfields vs Needham vs Wellesley
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).
Newfields has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k 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 | Newton | Newfields | Needham | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
2,023Lowest |
32,459 |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
37.1±2.2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newton and Needham 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% |
68.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
89%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.3%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9kLowest 136% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43k 280% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 376% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,886±$360Highest 104% above U.S. |
| Wellesley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Wellesley 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32%±2.9 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | Newfields School District | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Newton North High | None in town | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.