Compare towns

Newton vs Ogunquit 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%).
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.

MeasureNewtonOgunquitNeedham
People
Population
89,044Highest
1,379Lowest
32,459
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
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.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.5%±1
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
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%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%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%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
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.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,264,900±$43kHighest
280% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kLowest
163% 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±$81Lowest
68% 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.
$4,473Lowest
43% 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%
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%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older 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
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
32.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
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 — —
High school in town Newton North High — —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8
— —
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.