Compare towns
Needham vs Winchester vs Windsor Locks vs Andover
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).
Winchester has the most renters (34.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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 | Winchester | Windsor Locks | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
10,284Lowest |
12,579 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Needham 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% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Windsor Locks 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. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,174±$116Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,780 53% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Needham 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Andover 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Windsor Locks School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Needham High | Northwestern Regional High School | Windsor Locks High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
9.7 |
8.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.