Compare towns
Andover vs Everett vs Fall River 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 highest household income ($173k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Everett | Fall River | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
50,045 |
94,082Highest |
24,155Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Acton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Fall River 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% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Andover and Everett 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
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.