Compare towns
Needham vs Brookline vs Needham vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most renters (53.1% rent).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
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 | Needham | Brookline | Needham | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
63,266Highest |
32,459 |
23,406Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest 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+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$142,101±$8kLowest 37% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% 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 | $1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39k 116% above MA |
| Brookline and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,279±$481Lowest 29% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Highest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #22 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Brookline | Needham | Winchester |
| High school in town | — | Brookline High | Needham High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
11.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.