Compare towns
Needham vs Worcester vs Andover vs Milton
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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Milton has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Worcester | Andover | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
207,055Highest |
36,652 |
28,587Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
| 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Milton 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Milton 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
| Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Milton |
| High school in town | Needham High | South High Community | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.8 |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.