Compare towns
Windham vs Needham vs Worcester
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
32,459Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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 | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.