Compare towns
Needham vs Northbridge vs Ogunquit 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 expensive homes ($1189k median).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Northbridge | Ogunquit | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
16,458 |
1,379Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $2,201±$129 56% 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. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% 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% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | — | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northbridge | — | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | Northbridge High | — | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
— | 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.