Compare towns
Andover vs Needham vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Needham | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,112±$151Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,890Lowest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Lowest 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.