Compare towns
Reading vs Needham vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Reading | Needham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
32,459Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.