Compare towns
Andover vs Dover vs Needham vs Winchester
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 most affordable homes ($856k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Winchester has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
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 | Needham | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
2,308Lowest |
32,459 |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.5±1.9Lowest 6% 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% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Needham 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%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest 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±$16kLowest 66% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kLowest 52% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39k 116% above MA |
| Dover and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
| Needham and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Winchester 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Needham | Winchester |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Needham High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 11.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.