Compare towns
Windham vs Needham vs Hampden vs North Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hampden has the shortest commute (23 min average).
North Windham has the most renters (19.9% 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 | Windham | Needham | Hampden | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
32,459Highest |
7,896 |
5,417Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
| Needham and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Windham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$342,800±$29k 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$1,248±$604 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 14 | Needham | RSU 22 | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Needham High | Hampden Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.