Compare towns
Acton vs Sutton vs Needham vs Winchester
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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Sutton | Needham | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
2,239Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$130,313±$31kLowest 61% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% 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. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% 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. |
$1,656±$614Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% 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. |
$7,652Lowest 145% 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% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Kearsarge Regional School District | Needham | Winchester |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Kearsarge Regional High School | Needham High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
10.4Lowest |
11.9 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.