Compare towns
Needham vs Townshend 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).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Townshend | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
1,538 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Windham 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Townshend 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% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,364Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Townshend 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 | — | — |
| School district | Needham | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
8.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.