Compare towns
Needham vs Winchester vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most homeowners (83.1%).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
23,406Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below 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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below 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 |
$1,487±$38Lowest 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Worcester 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% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Winchester | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Needham High | Winchester High School | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.