Compare towns
Needham vs Spencer vs Andover
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 expensive homes ($1189k median).
Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k median).
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 | Spencer | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
12,008Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Spencer 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 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% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% 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 |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Spencer-E Brookfield | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | David Prouty High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.