Compare towns
Needham vs Marblehead vs Dover 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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Andover has the most affordable homes ($856k median).
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 | Marblehead | Dover | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
20,413 |
2,308Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Marblehead and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 106% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$855,600±$22kLowest 52% above MA |
| 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±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
— | $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 |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Marblehead | — | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Needham High | Marblehead High | — | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
10.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.