Compare towns
Needham vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Westminster | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
497Lowest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Windham and Westminster 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Needham 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% |
19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Westminster 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% |
45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Westminster 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. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Needham | — | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.