Compare towns

Acton vs Andover vs Jericho

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 highest household income ($173k).
Jericho has the most affordable homes ($493k 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.

MeasureActonAndoverJericho
People
Population
24,155
36,652Highest
5,114Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±0.8
14% above U.S.
42.9±1Lowest
10% above U.S.
49.7±5.1Highest
28% above U.S.
Jericho 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
U.S.: 22%
23.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.2Lowest
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%
20.2%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Jericho and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
79.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
65.3%Lowest
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%
2.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$158,230±$14k
96% above U.S.
$172,606±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$116,923±$16kLowest
45% 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±$22kHighest
157% above U.S.
$493,100±$38kLowest
48% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,986±$155
41% above U.S.
$2,201±$129Highest
56% above U.S.
$1,731±$111Lowest
23% 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.
$7,318Lowest
135% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.7%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
39.7%±7.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
79.3%±52.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Jericho 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
U.S.: 12.5%
2.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%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.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
29 min
10% above U.S.
26 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%
21.8%±6.4Lowest
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 #6 of 70 in VT
School district Acton-Boxborough Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town Acton-Boxborough Regional High Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Mt. Mansfield Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
12.8Lowest
13.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.