Compare towns
Needham vs Norton vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k 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 | Norton | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
19,240Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Needham and Winchester 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% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest 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% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$124,535±$11kLowest 20% 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 |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% 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 |
$1,911±$375Lowest 8% above MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
| Needham and Winchester 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 67% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest 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 | #173 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Norton | Winchester |
| High school in town | — | Norton High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.