Compare towns
Acton vs Gray vs Andover
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%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Andover has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Gray | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
8,429Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Acton and Gray 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% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest 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% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray 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% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest 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. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% 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. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% 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. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest 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% |
3.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.5Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.