Compare towns
Windsor vs Needham vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,065 |
32,459Highest |
796Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Montgomery and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Montgomery and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10kLowest 11% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$123,000±$19k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$357,500±$29kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,283 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.4%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.