Compare towns
Windham vs Needham vs Marblehead vs Bedford
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).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Bedford has the most affordable homes ($612k 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 | Needham | Marblehead | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Lowest |
32,459Highest |
20,413 |
23,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Bedford 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marblehead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63% 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% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Bedford 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. |
$182,132±$28k 126% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kLowest 107% 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. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,309Lowest 166% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marblehead 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Needham | Marblehead | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Needham High | Marblehead High | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.9 |
10.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.