Compare towns
Andover vs Lawrence vs Reading vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Reading has the most homeowners (82.4%).
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 | Reading | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
88,736Highest |
25,612 |
24,155Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Acton and Reading 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Acton 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% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | Reading | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence High School | Reading Memorial High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.