Compare towns
Andover vs Ware vs Needham vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware | Needham | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
10,048Lowest |
32,459 |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 66% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
| 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 52% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,474±$281 16% below MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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 MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Ware | Needham | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Needham High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.9 |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.