What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bourne has the most affordable homes ($576k 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	Bourne
People
Population	36,652Highest	20,323Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA	52±1.8Highest 30% above MA
Kids under 18	23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	46%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	6.6%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Andover and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA	$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA	$575,600±$28kLowest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA	$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,485Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	6.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 282 in MA	#206 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.