Compare towns
Washington vs Needham vs Williamstown
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).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42±5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%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%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Williamstown 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. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% 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% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Needham | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.