Compare towns
Needham vs Dunbarton vs Needham 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
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k median).
Andover has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Dunbarton | Needham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
3,097Lowest |
32,459 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Needham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,233Lowest 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dunbarton School District | Needham | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Needham High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.