Compare towns
Newton vs Woonsocket vs Needham vs Weston
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k 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 | Woonsocket | Needham | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
43,521 |
32,459 |
11,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.9±2.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Weston 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% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
26%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Weston 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 409% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,085±$809 48% 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weston and Needham 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±5.2 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #9 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | — | Weston |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Woonsocket High School | — | Weston High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
— | 10.9 |
| 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.