Compare towns
Winchester vs Halifax vs Woburn
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 most people working from home (33.8%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Halifax | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,406 |
7,748Lowest |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1.9Highest 6% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Winchester and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Woburn and Halifax 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 |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$673,500±$17k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,221±$77 26% above MA |
| Winchester and Woburn 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 |
$6,840 14% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Woburn and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #11 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchester | Halifax | Woburn |
| High school in town | Winchester High School | None in town | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.