Compare towns
Needham vs Suffield vs Lexington vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
Winchester has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
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 | Suffield | Lexington | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
15,702Lowest |
34,295Highest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8Highest 22% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lexington and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 165% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21k 185% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Winchester 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 257% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35k 262% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lexington and Winchester 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #2 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | Lexington | Winchester |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | Lexington High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
11.4 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.