Compare towns
Andover vs Epping vs Acton vs Wilmington
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 most expensive homes ($856k median).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Wilmington has the most homeowners (88.1%).
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 | Epping | Acton | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
7,430Lowest |
24,155 |
23,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
42.3±2.2Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Epping and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Acton 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$168,152±$19k 108% above U.S. |
| Andover and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$680,500±$19k 105% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,394±$328Highest 69% above U.S. |
| Wilmington 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. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,704 147% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #73 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Epping School District | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Epping High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
9.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.