Compare towns
Washington vs Needham vs Danby vs Wells
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 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 | Danby | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,133 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Washington and Danby 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% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%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% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Wells 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. |
$77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 12% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,543 46% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% 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% |
41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% 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. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.