Compare towns
Washington vs Needham vs Wheelock 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 oldest population (median age 52.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Wheelock | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056 |
32,459Highest |
717Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%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. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Washington and Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Wells 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% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%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% |
2.8%±2.3 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±$8k 18% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above 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. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest 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. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% 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% |
21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Needham | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 | 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.