Compare towns
Wellesley vs Maynard vs Needham vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Wellesley | Maynard | Needham | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,347 |
10,712Lowest |
32,459 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
| Maynard and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Newton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
| Wellesley 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 67% above MA |
$8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Maynard | Needham | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Maynard High | Needham High | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.