Compare towns
Templeton vs Needham vs Winchendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Templeton has the most homeowners (85.3%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Winchendon has the most affordable homes ($324k 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.
| Measure | Templeton | Needham | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,252Lowest |
32,459Highest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1 about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Needham and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,154±$15k about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$75,690±$14kLowest 27% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$323,800±$19kLowest 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,255±$163 29% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,554 24% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,780Lowest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Winchendon and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
76.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #244 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Narragansett | Needham | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | Needham High | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.9 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
MA 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.