Compare towns
Acton vs Needham vs Windham vs Belmont
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 people working from home (35.9%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Belmont has the most renters (35.3% 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 | Acton | Needham | Windham | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
32,459Highest |
16,038Lowest |
27,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Acton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belmont and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belmont and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 96% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$183,137±$14k 127% above U.S. |
| Needham and Windham 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. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S. |
$1,159,000±$33k 248% above U.S. |
| Needham and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,527±$105 79% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Windham 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% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Needham | Windham School District | Belmont |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Needham High | Windham High School | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.9Lowest |
12.8 |
15.8Highest |
| 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.