Compare towns
Wilmington vs Needham vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilmington has the most affordable homes ($681k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Wilmington | Needham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,336Lowest |
32,459 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,152±$19kLowest 62% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,500±$19kLowest 21% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,394±$328 36% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA |
| Needham and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,704Lowest 29% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wilmington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 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 | #73 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wilmington | Needham | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Wilmington High | Needham High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
11.9 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.