What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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	Windham
People
Population	32,459Highest	16,038Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S.	41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Needham and Windham 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%	27.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Needham and Windham 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%	62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham and Windham 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.	$189,583±$19kLowest 135% above U.S.
	Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.	$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Lowest 70% above U.S.	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S.	$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#13 of 120 in NH
School district	Needham	Windham School District
High school in town	Needham High	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.