Compare towns
Andover vs Dover vs Everett vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Dover | Everett | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
2,308Lowest |
50,045Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Dover 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 66% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
— | $2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Everett 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% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Everett | Needham |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Everett High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.