Compare towns
Needham vs Wellesley 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%).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Winchester has the most people working from home (33.8%).
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 | Wellesley | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
30,347 |
23,406Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Needham and Winchester 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% |
24.1%±2Lowest 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% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Winchester 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% MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kLowest 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39k 116% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$2,279±$481Lowest 29% above MA |
| Wellesley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Wellesley 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% |
4% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Lowest 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Wellesley | Winchester |
| High school in town | Needham High | Wellesley Sr High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
10.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.