Compare towns
Chilmark vs Needham vs Windham vs Leverett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Windham has the most homeowners (93.9%).
Leverett has the most affordable homes ($436k median).
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 | Chilmark | Needham | Windham | Leverett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
32,459Highest |
16,038 |
1,608 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1 38% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
56±6.4Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Leverett and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chilmark and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $168,750±$28k 109% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$104,688±$18kLowest 30% 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 | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$435,500±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2k 95% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,389±$135Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,779 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.3%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Leverett 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Needham | Windham School District | Leverett |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.