Compare towns
Andover vs Williston 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
Andover has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
10,144Lowest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest 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%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9%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% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Williston 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% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Needham |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.