Compare towns
Acton vs Lexington 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 renters (25.1% rent).
Lexington has the most expensive homes ($1203k median).
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 | Lexington | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
34,295 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Andover 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% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lexington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Acton 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 | #2 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 |
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.