Compare towns
Reading vs Needham vs West Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Reading | Needham | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,860 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Reading 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 | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.