What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Andover	Milton
People
Population	36,652Highest	28,587Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA	41.1±1.8Lowest 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%±1.8Lowest 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%±1.3Lowest 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%	71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	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±$16kLowest 66% above 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±$22kLowest 52% above MA	$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA	$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$9,677Lowest 61% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	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 MA: 10%	4.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	29.7%±2.9Lowest 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	#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 Our Story	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.