Compare towns
Andover vs Dedham 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 highest household income ($173k).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Dedham | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
25,237 |
24,155Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Andover and Acton 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 |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
| Andover and Dedham 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 |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dedham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dedham High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.