Compare towns
Andover vs Needham vs Windham vs Milton
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Milton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
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 | Windham | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
32,459 |
16,038Lowest |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Milton 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% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% 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% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kLowest 114% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15k 134% above U.S. |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31k 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,677Lowest 210% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham | Windham School District | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham High | Windham High School | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.4 |
| 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.