Compare towns
Windsor vs Needham vs Dummer
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 youngest population (median age 40.2).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Dummer has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Windsor | Needham | Dummer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 254Lowest |
32,459Highest |
299 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.2±18.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±14.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummer and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$40k 29% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$91,250±$21kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,500±$40k about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$242,200±$51kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,381 8% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,898Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±16.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Windsor 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| 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.