Compare towns
Andover vs Everett vs Lowell vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Everett | Lowell | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
50,045 |
118,368Highest |
32,459Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Lowest 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett 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% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Everett | Lowell | Needham |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Everett High | Lowell High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.1 |
14.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.