Compare towns
Beverly vs Needham vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the most affordable homes ($650k 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 | Beverly | Needham | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
32,459 |
23,406Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Needham and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 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+ | 19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13k 106% above 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 | $650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above 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 | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above 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 | $6,836Lowest 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Winchester 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Needham | Winchester |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Needham High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.