Compare towns
Andover vs Needham vs Ogunquit vs Wrentham
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 renters (20.1% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wrentham has the most affordable homes ($655k 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 | Ogunquit | Wrentham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
32,459 |
1,379Lowest |
12,297 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
46.8±3.2 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.4 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.1%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% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$151,676±$17k 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$654,900±$26kLowest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | $1,184±$628Lowest 16% below 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,373 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±15.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Wrentham 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% |
3.2% 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% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #49 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham | — | King Philip · Wrentham |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham High | — | King Philip Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.9Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.