Compare towns
Needham vs Newton vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
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 | Newton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
89,044Highest |
19,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Needham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Newton 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 70% above U.S. |
$2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Needham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Newton 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Newton | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | — | Newton North High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.