Compare towns
Needham vs Winchester vs Putnam
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 homeowners (83.1%).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
23,406 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Winchester 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 257% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| 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 70% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Winchester | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | — | Winchester High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.