Compare towns
Washington vs Needham vs Topsham
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 oldest population (median age 52.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Washington | Needham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
32,459Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| Washington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Topsham 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% |
28.1%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% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Needham 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% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% 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 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.