Compare towns
Andover vs Dover vs Epping
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k 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 | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
5,930Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Epping and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 114% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Epping School District |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.8 |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.