What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

Amherst has the most affordable homes ($538k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Andover	Amherst
People
Population	36,652Highest	11,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S.	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.
	Amherst and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Andover and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amherst and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.	$153,196±$10kLowest 90% above U.S.
	Andover and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S.	$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$9,773Lowest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Andover and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Amherst 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	#68 of 282 in MA	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.