Compare towns
Needham vs Windham vs Andover vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k 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 | Windham | Andover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
19,188Lowest |
36,652Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% 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%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #68 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | RSU 14 | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Windham High School | 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 |
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.