Compare towns
Needham vs Lee vs Andover vs Dover
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 most kids (27.5% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Andover has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Lee | Andover | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
5,719 |
36,652Highest |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
| Lee 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 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Andover 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 106% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
| 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±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
— |
| 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 67% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lee | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.