Compare towns
Wellesley vs Windham vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Needham has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Wellesley | Windham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347 |
16,038Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kLowest 135% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 376% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360 104% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Lowest 70% above U.S. |
| Windham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Wellesley 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Needham |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.