Compare towns
Andover vs Hooksett vs Needham vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
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 | Hooksett | Needham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
5,876Lowest |
32,459 |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Hooksett 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 114% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,811±$283Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | — | Needham |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.