Compare towns
Andover vs Dover vs Everett 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Dover | Everett | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
5,930Lowest |
50,045Highest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Dover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 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%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Acton 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Dover 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Everett | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Everett High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
9.8Lowest |
12.1 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.