Compare towns
Gray vs Needham vs Winchester vs New Gloucester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
New Gloucester has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Gray | Needham | Winchester | New Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
32,459Highest |
23,406 |
5,766Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9 9% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Gray and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8 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+ | 19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12k 35% 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 | $363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29kLowest 7% 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 | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below 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 | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA | #65 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Needham | Winchester | RSU 15/MSAD 15 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Needham High | Winchester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
11.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
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| 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.