Compare towns
Wheelock vs Needham vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Wheelock | Needham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 717Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% 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 | 18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$66,103±$8k 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,485 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | Needham | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school 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 |
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.