Compare towns
Needham vs Salem vs Sutton vs Winchester
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%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Salem | Sutton | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
44,795Highest |
9,452Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Sutton 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 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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 MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
| 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 111% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
| 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 37% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Salem | Sutton | Winchester |
| High school in town | Needham High | Salem High | Sutton High School | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
9.8Lowest |
12.6 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.