Compare towns
Acton vs Andover vs Lancaster
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 highest household income ($173k).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
36,652Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Acton and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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 MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| 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 44% above MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Nashoba |
| 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 |
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| 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.