Compare towns
Andover vs Jefferson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k 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 | Jefferson | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
1,013Lowest |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest 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%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below 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. |
$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 14 photos → | 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.