Compare towns
Andover vs Derry vs Needham vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Milton has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Derry | Needham | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
34,116 |
32,459 |
28,587Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8 6% 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% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Milton 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Milton 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% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15k 134% above U.S. |
| Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31k 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% 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. |
$8,103Lowest 160% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Needham | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Pinkerton Academy | Needham High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.9Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.4 |
| 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.