Compare towns
Winchester vs Needham 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 highest household income ($230k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Woburn has the most affordable homes ($674k 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 | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,406Lowest |
32,459 |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Woburn 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 |
$111,185±$9kLowest 7% 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 |
$673,500±$17kLowest 20% 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 |
$2,221±$77Lowest 26% 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest 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 | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchester | Needham | Woburn |
| High school in town | Winchester High School | Needham High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.9 |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.