Compare towns
Needham vs Stoneham vs Hooksett 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).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Stoneham | Hooksett | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
23,355 |
15,057Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Needham and Andover 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% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham 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% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above 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. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% 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% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Stoneham | Hooksett School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Needham High | Stoneham High | None in town | 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 |
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.