Compare towns
Acton vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Northfield | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
2,872Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Northfield and Acton 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% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% 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 |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northfield 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% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Pioneer Valley | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Pioneer Valley Regional | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.