Compare towns
Needham vs Freeport vs Dover 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
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Freeport has the most affordable homes ($508k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Freeport | Dover | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
8,802 |
5,930Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Dover 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% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
| Dover 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,042Lowest 62% 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%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Needham 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #1 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RSU 05 | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | Freeport High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
9.8Lowest |
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.