Compare towns
Needham vs Windham vs Stoneham vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
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 | Windham | Stoneham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
16,038Lowest |
23,355 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest 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% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kLowest 102% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Windham School District | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Windham High School | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.