Compare towns
Needham vs Westford 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 most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Westford has the most affordable homes ($749k 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 | Westford | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
24,690Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.8±1.2Lowest 7% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
25.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Andover 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 MA: 47.3% |
73.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$187,198±$10k 80% above MA |
$172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$748,500±$32kLowest 33% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,436±$422Highest 38% above MA |
$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA |
| Westford 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 |
$9,695Lowest 62% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±8 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
27%±2.9Lowest 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 | #20 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Needham High | Westford Academy | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.