Compare towns
Andover vs Carlisle vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
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 | Carlisle | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
5,239Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Carlisle and Acton 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% |
26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle 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% |
21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle and Acton 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% |
87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% 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+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle and Acton 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 | #24 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Carlisle | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.