Compare towns
Brookline vs Needham vs Windham vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Andover has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Brookline | Needham | Windham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
32,459Highest |
594 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 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+ | 41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | $1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest 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 | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9 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 | — | #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 | 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.