Compare towns
Andover vs Newfields vs Methuen vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Newfields | Methuen | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
2,023Lowest |
53,475Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Methuen 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% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Needham and Newfields 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. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% 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. |
$5,061Lowest 62% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Methuen 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | — | #236 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Newfields School District | Methuen | Needham |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | Methuen High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 13.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.