Compare towns
Needham vs Stoneham vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($390k 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 | Stoneham | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
23,355 |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
44.8±6.4Highest 12% above MA |
| Windsor 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Windsor 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% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Stoneham 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 106% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Stoneham 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% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Needham | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.