Compare towns
Windsor vs Needham vs North Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
North Haven has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Windsor | Needham | North Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,468 |
32,459Highest |
24,336Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±1.9 12% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.7±1.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
| North Haven and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Haven and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,725±$8kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$132,689±$7k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,200±$11kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$393,200±$15k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,681±$62Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,720±$127 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,351Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,964 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #84 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Needham | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District |
| High school in town | Windsor High School | Needham High | North Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.0 |
| 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.