Compare towns
Needham vs Oakham vs Windsor 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%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($390k 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 | Oakham | Windsor | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,639 |
1,065Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Oakham and Windsor 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% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Windsor 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% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Winchester 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 |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$115,563±$10k 11% 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 |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% 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 |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below 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 |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Winchester 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 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 | — | — | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | — | Winchester |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.8 |
| 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.