Compare towns
Needham vs Peru 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 most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Andover has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Peru | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
434Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Peru 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peru 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% |
54.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$151,875±$83kLowest 88% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$400,000±$105kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% 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. |
$5,000Lowest 60% 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% |
29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Andover 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% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 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 |
| School district | Needham | — | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | 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 |
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.