Compare towns
Montgomery vs Needham vs Windsor vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Leyden has the oldest population (median age 53.2).
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 | Montgomery | Needham | Windsor | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 796 |
32,459Highest |
1,065 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
53.2±8.2Highest 33% above MA |
| Leyden and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±7 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Leyden and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $123,000±$19k 18% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$105,893±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,500±$29kLowest 36% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— | $1,917±$451Lowest 9% above MA |
| Needham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,283 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,651 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
93.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Needham | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.