Compare towns
Acton vs Cornwall vs Winchester 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
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
Cornwall has the most affordable homes ($458k median).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
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 | Acton | Cornwall | Winchester | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
1,208Lowest |
23,406 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Needham and Winchester 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. |
$6,726Lowest 116% 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 | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Winchester 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | — | #11 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Winchester | Needham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Winchester High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 14.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.