Compare towns
Hull 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
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Hull | Needham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,138Lowest |
32,459Highest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest 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+ | 26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14kLowest 43% 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 | $646,000±$38kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187Lowest 47% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089Lowest 95% 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 | 52.8%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hull | Needham | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Hull High | Needham High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Lowest |
11.9 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.