Compare towns
Needham vs Dedham vs Chilmark vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Andover has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Needham | Dedham | Chilmark | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
25,237 |
1,578Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Chilmark and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Chilmark 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 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Up-Island Regional | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.