Compare towns
Andover vs Suffield vs Needham vs Westford
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).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Westford has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Suffield | Needham | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
15,702Lowest |
32,459 |
24,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.8±1.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Westford 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% |
18.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Suffield 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% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
73.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$187,198±$10k 132% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$748,500±$32k 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,436±$422Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Westford and Needham 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. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,695 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Westford 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% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer 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. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #20 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Suffield School District | Needham | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Suffield High School | Needham High | Westford Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.9Lowest |
11.9 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.