Compare towns
Acton vs Needham vs Worcester vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Needham has the most homeowners (83.1%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
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 | Worcester | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
32,459 |
207,055Highest |
23,406Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| 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%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Winchester 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
| 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 44% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
| 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 13% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Needham | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Winchester |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Needham High | South High Community | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.9Lowest |
14.6 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.