Compare towns
Winchester vs Concord vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Concord has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Winchester | Concord | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,406 |
18,223Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 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+ | 18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
79.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$195,350±$22kLowest 88% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72k 115% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
| Winchester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,279±$481Lowest 29% above MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Concord and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Winchester 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 | #11 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchester | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Needham |
| High school in town | Winchester High School | Concord Carlisle High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.