Compare towns
Windham vs Milton vs Needham vs Pelham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Milton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k 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 | Windham | Milton | Needham | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
28,587 |
32,459Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Needham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15k 134% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S. |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31k 180% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Milton 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #55 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Milton | Needham | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Milton High | Needham High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.4 |
11.9 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.