Compare towns
Newton vs Ogunquit vs Chilmark 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k 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 | Ogunquit | Chilmark | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
1,379Lowest |
1,578 |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+40% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.6±8.1 38% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Chilmark 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±12.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Chilmark 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% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$168,750±$28k 109% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43k 280% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kLowest 163% above U.S. |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81Lowest 68% above U.S. |
— | $2,750±$2kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Chilmark and Needham 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,485 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Newton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 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 |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±11Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | — | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | — | Up-Island Regional | 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 | 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.