Compare towns
Needham vs Winchester vs Woonsocket
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
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 | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
23,406Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9 9% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| 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%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| 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 257% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| 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 70% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Needham | Winchester | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Needham High | Winchester High School | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
14.8 |
15.2Highest |
| 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.