Compare towns
Needham vs Westbrook 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).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Westbrook | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
20,775 |
19,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Needham 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% |
18.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westbrook 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% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westbrook and Needham 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. |
$85,038±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$383,300±$19kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,005 28% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Westbrook 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #115 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Needham | Westbrook Public Schools | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Needham High | Westbrook High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.0 |
12.1Highest |
| 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.