Compare towns
Needham vs Windham vs Winchester vs Lexington
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 the most homeowners (83.1%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Winchester has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
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 | Winchester | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
594Lowest |
23,406 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8 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%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Winchester 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. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21k 185% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Winchester 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. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35k 262% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
— | $2,279±$481Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,951Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Lexington 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lexington and Winchester 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 | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | Winchester | Lexington |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | Winchester High School | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | 14.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.