What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Andover	Halifax
People
Population	36,652Highest	7,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA	41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA
	Andover and Halifax 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%	22.2%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Andover and Halifax 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%	18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Halifax and Andover 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 MA: 47.3%	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA	$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA	$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA	$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average
	Andover and Halifax 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	$6,840Lowest 14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Halifax and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Highest MA: 10%	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	35 minHighest 22% above MA
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 282 in MA	#120 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Halifax
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.