Compare towns
Andover vs Needham vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most affordable homes ($856k median).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
32,459 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kLowest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kLowest 157% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,519Lowest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Rye 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.