Compare towns
Acton vs Springfield vs Winchester vs Needham
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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Springfield | Winchester | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
154,749Highest |
23,406Lowest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% 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%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% 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 |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Needham 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Springfield | Winchester | Needham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Springfield Central High | Winchester High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.2 |
14.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.