Compare towns
Andover vs Bow vs Everett 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
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Bow | Everett | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
8,335Lowest |
50,045Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Needham and Andover 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Bow 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% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%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% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% 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. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Needham 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bow School District | Everett | Needham |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bow High School | Everett High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
12.1 |
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.