Compare towns
Andover vs Everett vs Salem vs Milton
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 people working from home (30.4%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Salem | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
50,045Highest |
30,964 |
28,587Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
| Salem and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Andover 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Andover 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. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Milton 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Milton 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Everett | Salem School District | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Everett High | Salem High School | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1 |
11.2Lowest |
12.4 |
| 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.