Compare towns
Needham vs Winchester vs Reading vs Milton
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%).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
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 | Reading | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
23,406Lowest |
25,612 |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Reading and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 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% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Winchester 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% 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±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% 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±$481 29% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Winchester | Reading | Milton |
| High school in town | Needham High | Winchester High School | Reading Memorial High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
12.1 |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.