Compare towns
Washington vs Needham vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Washington | Needham | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
32,459Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.