Compare towns
Needham vs Winchester vs Windsor Locks vs Newton
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).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k 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 | Winchester | Windsor Locks | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
10,284Lowest |
12,579 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Needham 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% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% 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. |
$1,174±$116Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$2,370±$81 68% above 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. |
$4,780 53% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Needham 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±2 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Windsor Locks School District | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Northwestern Regional High School | Windsor Locks High School | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
8.9Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.