Compare towns
Needham vs Exeter vs Lowell 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
Needham has the most homeowners (83.1%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Exeter | Lowell | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
16,151Lowest |
118,368Highest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
42.5±1.9 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 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%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% 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% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%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. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3Highest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lowell | Winchester |
| High school in town | Needham High | Exeter High School | Lowell High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.1 |
14.8Highest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.