Compare towns
Acton vs Marblehead vs Sutton 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).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Marblehead | Sutton | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
20,413 |
9,452Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Sutton 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% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Marblehead 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 |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Sutton | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Sutton High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.