Compare towns
Andover vs Dover vs Needham vs Windham
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).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Needham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
5,930Lowest |
32,459 |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| 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%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham 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% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Dover 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% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Dover 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 114% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S. |
| 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±$129Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2k 106% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Windham 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.9 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.