Compare towns
North Andover vs Needham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Andover has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k 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.
| Measure | North Andover | Needham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,490 |
32,459Highest |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Needham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,670±$9k 35% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,900±$37k 30% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$223 26% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% 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 | $7,767 30% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #98 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Andover | Needham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | North Andover High | Needham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
11.9 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.