Compare towns
Andover vs Dover vs Upton vs Westford
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 most renters (20.1% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Dover | Upton | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
2,308Lowest |
8,189 |
24,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
42.8±1.2Lowest 7% above MA |
| Dover and Upton 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% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
73.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
$187,198±$10k 80% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$748,500±$32k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
— | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,436±$422Highest 38% above MA |
| Westford 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$9,695 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
53%±8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Westford 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% |
3.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #20 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Blackstone Valley | Westford Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.