Compare towns
Andover vs Lowell vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k 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 | Lowell | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652 |
118,368Highest |
28,587Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
| Andover and Milton 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% |
21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Milton 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% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
| 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 52% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lowell and Milton 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
14.8Highest |
12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.