Compare towns
Andover vs Windham 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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Westford has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Windham | Needham | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
594Lowest |
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. |
44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.8±1.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1%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% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% 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. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$748,500±$32k 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Lowest 56% above U.S. |
— | $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. |
$5,951Lowest 91% 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% |
41.2%±94 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% |
9.9%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% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer 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. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #20 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Needham | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Needham High | Westford Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 11.9Lowest |
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.