What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most affordable homes ($856k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Andover	Needham
People
Population	36,652Highest	32,459Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
	Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	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 MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kLowest 52% above MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above 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+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Andover 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%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest 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	#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 Our Story	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.