Compare towns
Andover vs Plainfield vs Needham 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
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 | Plainfield | Needham | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
1,314Lowest |
32,459 |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Milton 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 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±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15k 134% above U.S. |
| Needham and Milton 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. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31k 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281 4% 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. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Needham 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Needham | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Needham High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
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.