Compare towns

Windham vs Needham vs Hull

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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).

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.

MeasureWindhamNeedhamHull
People
Population
16,038
32,459Highest
10,138Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
56.1±1.8Highest
44% above U.S.
Kids under 18
27.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.2Lowest
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%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$189,583±$19k
135% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$115,485±$14kLowest
43% 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.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$646,000±$38kLowest
94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$2,409±$183
70% above U.S.
$2,081±$187Lowest
47% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,089Lowest
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Hull 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%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1946Lowest
34 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #13 of 120 in NH #19 of 282 in MA #66 of 282 in MA
School district Windham School District Needham Hull
High school in town Windham High School Needham High Hull High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.9
8.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.