Compare towns
Needham vs Brookline vs Dover 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($544k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Brookline | Dover | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
5,736 |
2,308Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Dover 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% |
26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kLowest 112% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
— | $2,201±$129Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Needham 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Brookline 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 |
| 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.