Compare towns
Acton vs Dunstable vs Andover
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%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Andover has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Dunstable | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
3,408Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Acton and Andover 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% |
22.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest 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% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Dunstable 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 |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Dunstable and Andover 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 |
$674,000±$30kLowest 20% above MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,020Lowest 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable 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% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Groton-Dunstable | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | 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.