Compare towns
Andover vs Needham vs Putnam
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 youngest population (median age 42.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
32,459 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%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% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% 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% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.9 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.