Compare towns
Newton vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Sutton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
2,239Lowest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% |
44.3%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% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kLowest 61% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 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. |
$1,656±$614Lowest 17% 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. |
$7,652Lowest 145% 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% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older 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 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | Kearsarge Regional School District | Needham |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Kearsarge Regional High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.