Compare towns
Andover vs Cornwall vs Needham vs Wilmington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Cornwall has the most affordable homes ($458k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Wilmington has the youngest population (median age 42.3).
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 | Cornwall | Needham | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
1,208Lowest |
32,459 |
23,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.3±2.2Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±2.7 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%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$168,152±$19k 108% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$680,500±$19k 105% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,394±$328 69% above U.S. |
| Needham and Wilmington 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. |
$6,726Lowest 116% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,704 147% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Wilmington 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% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±2.3Lowest 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #73 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 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.