Compare towns
Webster vs Needham vs New Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
New Durham has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Webster | Needham | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Lowest |
32,459Highest |
2,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.5±7.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| New Durham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Durham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$100,194±$13kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$339,400±$27k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,417±$116 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,774Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.