Compare towns

Andover vs Fall River vs Milton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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.

MeasureAndoverFall RiverMilton
People
Population
36,652
94,082Highest
28,587Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1Highest
7% above MA
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
41.1±1.8
about the MA average
Andover and Milton 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%
19.9%±1.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
25.3%±2.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Milton 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%
16.1%±0.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±1.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
75.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
71.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±0.8
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.7%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
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
66% above MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$188,529±$15kHighest
81% above MA
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
52% above MA
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$933,200±$31kHighest
66% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,201±$129Highest
25% above MA
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$1,474±$281
16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$9,677
61% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.7%±7.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±20.9
MA: 51.8%
Fall River 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
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
4.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
9 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
26 minLowest
11% below MA
31 minHighest
8% above MA
Work from home
30.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
29.7%±2.9
MA: 18.6%
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 #262 of 282 in MA #55 of 282 in MA
School district Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Milton
High school in town Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical B M C Durfee High Milton High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.3Lowest
12.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.