Compare towns
Andover vs Dover vs Dracut
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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k 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 | Dover | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
5,930Lowest |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dover and Andover 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%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dracut and Dover 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Dover 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 |
$114,036±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dover 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 |
$5,375Lowest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Lowest 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 | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Dracut |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
9.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.