Compare towns
Andover vs Hudson vs Methuen 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
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k median).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Hudson | Methuen | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
25,557Lowest |
53,475Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Hudson 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson 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% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Hudson 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. |
$124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,636 113% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% 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% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Hudson School District | Methuen | Needham |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Alvirne High School | Methuen High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.6Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.