Compare towns
Middlesex vs Needham vs Winchester vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Middlesex | Needham | Winchester | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
32,459Highest |
23,406 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9 9% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 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+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% 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 | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% 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 | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Needham and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Winchester | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Winchester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.