Compare towns
Needham vs Easthampton 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
Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
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 | Easthampton | Needham | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
16,086Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Easthampton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below 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±$43k 111% above MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% 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 | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Easthampton | Needham | Winchester |
| High school in town | — | Easthampton High | Needham High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.9 |
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.