Compare towns
Andover vs Dover vs Methuen vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k 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 | Dover | Methuen | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
5,930Lowest |
53,475Highest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest 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%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Methuen 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% |
31%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% |
6.7%±1 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 |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 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 |
$5,061Lowest 16% 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% |
48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Methuen 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%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 |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Methuen | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Methuen High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
9.8Lowest |
13.1 |
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.