Compare towns
Needham vs Brewster 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).
Brewster has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Brewster | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
10,420Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest 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% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$707,700±$51kLowest 26% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,589±$465Lowest 10% 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 |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Brewster | 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 |
| 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.