Compare towns
Worcester vs Needham vs Windham vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Worcester | Needham | Windham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
32,459Highest |
594Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% 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 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Needham | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.