Compare towns
Andover vs Dalton vs Needham vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Dalton | Needham | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
6,256Lowest |
32,459 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Dalton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Central Berkshire | Needham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Wahconah Regional High | Needham High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.9Lowest |
11.9 |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.