Compare towns
Andover vs Needham vs Windham
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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k 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 | Needham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
32,459Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Andover and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% 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% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% 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 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — |
| 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.