Compare towns
Acton vs Heath vs Plainfield 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%).
Heath has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
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 | Heath | Plainfield | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
765 |
616Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Heath and Plainfield 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Plainfield 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% |
46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Plainfield 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 52% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% 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 |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
— | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% 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 |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Heath 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 |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | — | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | — | 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 | 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.