Compare towns
Needham vs Gorham vs Andover vs Milton
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 expensive homes ($1189k median).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($461k median).
Andover has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Milton has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Needham | Gorham | Andover | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
18,300Lowest |
36,652Highest |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
| Needham and Andover 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% |
20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Gorham 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% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15k 134% above U.S. |
| Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31k 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Needham and Andover 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. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Milton 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #68 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Milton |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.8 |
12.4Lowest |
| 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.