Compare towns
Needham vs Wayne vs Winthrop 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).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Winthrop has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Wayne | Winthrop | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
1,101Lowest |
6,191 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.6±5.3 12% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.6 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$86,470±$4kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$294,800±$41kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$892±$319Lowest 37% 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. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,506 12% 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% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±22.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Winthrop 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±6.7Lowest 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 | — | #12 of 133 in ME | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RSU 38 | Winthrop Public Schools | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Winthrop High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Lowest |
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.