Compare towns
Needham vs Barnet vs Andover vs Milton
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).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
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 | Barnet | Andover | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
1,855Lowest |
36,652Highest |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Barnet 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% |
21.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Milton 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% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Andover 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. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15k 134% above U.S. |
| Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31k 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281 4% 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. |
$4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 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 | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Milton |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
12.4 |
| 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.