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Needham vs Barnstead vs Needham vs Andover

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

NeedhamNeedham, MANorfolk County · 32,459 people
BarnsteadBarnstead, NHBelknap County · 4,994 people
Needham, MAMassachusetts · 32,459 people
Andover, MAEssex County · 36,652 people

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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.

MeasureNeedhamBarnsteadNeedhamAndover
People
Population
32,459
4,994Lowest
32,459
36,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±1.6Highest
11% above U.S.
42.8±3.1Lowest
10% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Highest
11% above U.S.
42.9±1
10% above U.S.
Kids under 18
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
21%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.6%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnstead and Needham 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%
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Andover and Barnstead 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.
$111,660±$12kLowest
38% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$172,606±$16k
114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$362,400±$25kLowest
9% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$855,600±$22k
157% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,395±$75Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$2,201±$129
56% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,003Lowest
92% 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%
47.6%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.7%±7.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
3.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
29 min
10% above U.S.
Work from home
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.4%±2.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #19 of 282 in MA #111 of 120 in NH #19 of 282 in MA #68 of 282 in MA
School district Needham Barnstead School District — Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Needham High None in town — Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9Lowest
 — —
12.8Highest
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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.