Compare towns
Needham vs Windsor vs Andover vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k 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 | Windsor | Andover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
3,554Lowest |
36,652Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Windsor 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% |
19.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #61 of 70 in VT | #68 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham |
| High school in town | — | — | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.