Compare towns
Bedford vs Dracut vs Needham vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Bedford | Dracut | Needham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
32,574Highest |
32,459 |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 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+ | 20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% 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 | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% 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 | 59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Dracut | Needham | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Dracut Senior High | Needham High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.9 |
11.9Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.