What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).

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	Harvard
People
Population	36,652Highest	6,927Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA	44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA
	Harvard 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%	21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Andover and Harvard 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%	16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Harvard 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%	62%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA	$833,600±$54kLowest 48% above MA
	Andover and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard and Andover 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%	4.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 282 in MA	#12 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Harvard
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.