Compare towns
Acton vs Nashua 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%).
Nashua has the most affordable homes ($404k 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 | Nashua | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
91,294Highest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2Lowest 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%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Nashua 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% |
41.2%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%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$96,326±$5kLowest 19% 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. |
$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,737±$41Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$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. |
$6,799Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Nashua 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest 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 | #67 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Nashua School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Nashua High School South | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.