Compare towns
Lenox vs Needham vs Winchester vs Hull
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lenox has the most affordable homes ($467k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Hull has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
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 | Lenox | Needham | Winchester | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,079Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,406 |
10,138 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
| Lenox and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest 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+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% 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 | $466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% 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 | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% 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 | $5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 22% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Needham | Winchester | Hull |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Needham High | Winchester High School | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
11.9 |
14.8Highest |
8.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.