Compare towns

Needham vs Windsor 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

Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k 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.

MeasureNeedhamWindsorNeedham
People
Population
32,459Highest
3,554Lowest
32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
44.8±6.5Highest
15% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
Windsor and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.7%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%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$207,500±$31kLowest
38% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,026±$89Lowest
27% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,209Lowest
67% 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%
31.5%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Highest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1965Highest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±5Lowest
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 #61 of 70 in VT #19 of 282 in MA
School district Needham — —
High school in town Needham High — —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 12 photos → 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.