Compare towns
Needham vs Union vs Needham 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
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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 | Union | Needham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
944Lowest |
32,459 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Needham 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% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Union 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.