Compare towns
Acton vs Hampton vs Andover vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k median).
Andover has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Acton | Hampton | Andover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
16,426Lowest |
36,652Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Needham 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Winnacunnet High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.1Lowest |
12.8 |
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.