Compare towns
Needham vs Standish vs Windham 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).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Standish | Windham | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
10,662Lowest |
19,188 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
| Needham and Newton 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% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newton and Needham 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% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Standish and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$388,900±$22k 17% above 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. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$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. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,938 26% 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% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 14 | Newton |
| High school in town | Needham High | Bonny Eagle High School | Windham High School | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.5Highest |
12.1 |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.