Compare towns
Andover vs Needham vs Dover vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most affordable homes ($856k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Needham | Dover | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
32,459 |
2,308Lowest |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest 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%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Milton 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% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Milton 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 66% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kLowest 52% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
| 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±$129 25% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— | $1,474±$281Lowest 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677Lowest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | — | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | — | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 12.4Lowest |
| 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.