Compare towns
Acton vs Woonsocket 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%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
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 | Woonsocket | Andover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
43,521Highest |
36,652 |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Acton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%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%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below 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. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% 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% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Acton 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% |
18.7%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% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #68 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Woonsocket High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
15.2Highest |
12.8 |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.