What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Winchester	Needham
People
Population	23,406Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA	43.1±1.6Highest 8% 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	27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Lowest 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%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Winchester 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	$214,308±$13kLowest 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	$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA
	Winchester and Needham 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	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
	Needham and Winchester 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Winchester 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Lowest 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	#11 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Winchester	Needham
High school in town	Winchester High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.