What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Andover has the most affordable homes ($733k median).

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Andover	Needham
People
Population	31,490Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±2Lowest about the MA average	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
	Needham and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Needham and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,670±$9kLowest 35% above MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$732,900±$37kLowest 30% above MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,223±$223Lowest 26% above MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
	Needham and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,767Lowest 30% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	20.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#98 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	North Andover	Needham
High school in town	North Andover High	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.