Compare towns
Andover vs Lawrence vs Pelham vs Acton
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 highest household income ($173k).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Lawrence | Pelham | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
88,736Highest |
14,449Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Acton 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton 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. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Lawrence 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Andover 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | Pelham School District | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence High School | Pelham High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.