Compare towns
Wellesley vs Stoneham vs Needham vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Winchester has the most people working from home (33.8%).
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 | Stoneham | Needham | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,347 |
23,355Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Needham and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39k 116% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
| Wellesley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Winchester and Needham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellesley | Stoneham | Needham | Winchester |
| High school in town | Wellesley Sr High | Stoneham High | Needham High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.7Lowest |
11.9 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.