Compare towns
Acton vs Andover vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k 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 | Acton | Andover | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
36,652Highest |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Acton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 96% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Bow and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584Lowest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.