Compare towns
Needham vs Reading vs Chilmark 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 highest household income ($214k).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
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 | Reading | Chilmark | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
25,612 |
1,578Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Chilmark and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Chilmark and Needham 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | — | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Reading | Up-Island Regional | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Needham High | Reading Memorial High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.1 |
— | 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.