Compare towns

Windham vs Needham vs Little Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Little Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.9%).

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.

MeasureWindhamNeedhamLittle Falls
People
Population
19,188
32,459Highest
718Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
46.3±21.2Highest
19% above U.S.
Little Falls and Needham 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%
15.5%±16.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Little Falls 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%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,934±$14kLowest
34% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$127,500±$72k
58% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$388,900±$22k
17% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$375,800±$96kLowest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$2,205±$101
56% above U.S.
Needham and Little Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,041
30% 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%
15.3%±31.7Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
0%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #95 of 133 in ME #19 of 282 in MA —
School district RSU 14 Needham —
High school in town Windham High School Needham High —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
11.9Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
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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.