Compare towns
Washington vs Needham vs Chelsea
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 affordable homes ($218k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Chelsea has the most renters (18.8% rent).
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 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1 36% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.1±12.1Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Washington 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% |
21.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chelsea and Washington 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% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 18% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$65,913±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$260,900±$39k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,524±$467 8% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,762 21% 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% |
66.3%±33.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chelsea 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% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest 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 | Needham | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.