Compare towns
Andover vs Bedford vs Dracut 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
Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k 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 | Andover | Bedford | Dracut | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
23,746Lowest |
32,574 |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Lowest 30% 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. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Andover 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | #7 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bedford School District | Dracut | Needham |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bedford High School | Dracut Senior High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.5Highest |
12.9 |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.