Compare towns
Needham vs Plainfield vs Windsor
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k 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 | Plainfield | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
616Lowest |
1,065 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Plainfield 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Plainfield 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 | — | — |
| 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.