Compare towns
Andover vs Chilmark vs Acton vs Methuen
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 highest household income ($173k).
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k 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.
| Measure | Andover | Chilmark | Acton | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
1,578Lowest |
24,155 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Acton 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Methuen 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 |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
| Andover and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
| Chilmark 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Methuen and Acton 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% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Up-Island Regional | Acton-Boxborough | Methuen |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.