Compare towns
Andover vs Needham vs Putney vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Putney | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
32,459 |
2,622Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Acton 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 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% |
18.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putney 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% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% 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. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham High | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.9Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.