Compare towns
Acton vs Andover vs Gray vs Ogunquit
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 renters (25.1% rent).
Andover has the highest household income ($173k).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Gray | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
36,652Highest |
8,429 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton 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±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| 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. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8 |
12.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.