Compare towns
Needham vs Sudbury vs Windham
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 expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sudbury has the highest household income ($236k).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Sudbury | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
19,306 |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.3±2.1 9% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Needham and Sudbury 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% |
28.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sudbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Sudbury 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. |
$236,250±$17kHighest 193% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kLowest 135% above U.S. |
| Sudbury 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±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$988,900±$42k 197% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,445±$895Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sudbury 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 | #15 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Needham | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Needham High | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
11.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.