Compare towns
Andover vs Bedford vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Bedford has the most renters (31.2% rent).
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Andover | Bedford | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
14,727Lowest |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Bedford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bedford and Milton 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 MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kLowest 52% above MA |
$898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
| Milton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| Bedford and Andover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677Lowest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Milton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bedford 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 | #7 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bedford | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bedford High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.4 |
| 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.