Compare towns
Andover vs Hardwick vs Needham vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
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 | Hardwick | Needham | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
2,684Lowest |
32,459 |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 66% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
| 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 52% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,474±$281 16% below 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Quabbin | Needham | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | Needham High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
12.4 |
| 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.