Compare towns
Andover vs Needham vs Oakham
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 renters (20.1% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k 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 | Needham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
32,459 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% 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 |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.