Compare towns
Winchester vs Needham vs Marblehead
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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Marblehead has the most affordable homes ($944k median).
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 | Needham | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,406 |
32,459Highest |
20,413Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest 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±$13k 106% above MA |
$182,132±$28kLowest 75% 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±$43k 111% above MA |
$943,900±$31kLowest 68% 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±$481 29% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Marblehead 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchester | Needham | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Winchester High School | Needham High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.9 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.