What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Needham	Winchester
People
Population	32,459Highest	23,406Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA	42.5±1.9Lowest 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%±2.2Lowest 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%±1.7Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kLowest 106% above MA	$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA
	Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA	$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA
	Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA	$2,279±$481Lowest 29% above MA
	Needham and Winchester 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Winchester 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%	4.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Lowest 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	#11 of 282 in MA
School district	Needham	Winchester
High school in town	Needham High	Winchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.