Compare towns
Needham vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Reading | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
699Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% 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% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 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 | — | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.