What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the shortest commute (29 min average).

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).

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	Bolton
People
Population	36,652Highest	5,737Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA	41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA
	Andover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Bolton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Andover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA	$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA
	Bolton 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±$22kHighest 52% above MA	$796,000±$49kLowest 42% above MA
	Andover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA	$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA
	Andover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Highest MA: 51.8%	12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Andover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9% MA: 10%	2.9% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 282 in MA	#28 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Nashoba
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Nashoba Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.