Compare towns
Acton vs Andover vs Chilmark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Andover has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
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 | Chilmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
36,652Highest |
1,578Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
| Andover and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
| Chilmark and Andover 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 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.