Compare towns

Needham vs Warner 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).
Warner has the most affordable homes ($353k 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.

MeasureNeedhamWarnerAndover
People
Population
32,459
2,959Lowest
36,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
43.7±4Highest
12% above U.S.
42.9±1Lowest
10% above U.S.
Warner 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%
17.3%±3.3Lowest
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%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Warner 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%
42.4%Lowest
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%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$94,022±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
$172,606±$16k
114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$353,100±$22kLowest
6% above U.S.
$855,600±$22k
157% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,219±$123Lowest
14% 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.
$7,650Lowest
145% 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%
48.7%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
39.7%±7.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Warner 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%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 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.
29 min
10% above U.S.
Work from home
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±4.8Lowest
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 Kearsarge Regional 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

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.