Compare towns
Acton vs Andover vs Dover
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 renters (25.1% rent).
Andover has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k 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 | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
36,652Highest |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
| Dover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest 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%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Andover 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 52% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
— |
| 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+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Acton 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 | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| 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.