Compare towns
Needham vs Needham vs Orange vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Needham | Orange | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
7,573Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Orange and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below 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 |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below 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 |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Winchester |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
9.0Lowest |
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.