Compare towns
Needham vs Windsor Locks vs Wolcott vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Wolcott has the most homeowners (88.4%).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
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 | Windsor Locks | Wolcott | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
12,579Lowest |
16,279 |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.4±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9 9% above U.S. |
| Wolcott and Needham 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolcott and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Needham 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,850±$10k 37% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$326,200±$17k about the U.S. average |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above 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. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,464±$913 4% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,799 86% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±24.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3Highest 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #76 of 149 in CT | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Windsor Locks School District | Wolcott School District | Winchester |
| High school in town | Needham High | Windsor Locks High School | Wolcott High School | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
8.9Lowest |
10.1 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.