Compare towns
Andover vs Pawtucket vs Needham 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
Pawtucket has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Pawtucket | Needham | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
75,893Highest |
32,459 |
24,155Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above 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% |
22.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Acton 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% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$68,310±$4kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,208±$39Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above 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. |
$4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Acton 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% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Needham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | William E. Tolman High | Needham High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
14.6Highest |
11.9Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.