Compare towns
Andover vs Pinehurst vs Acton 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%).
Pinehurst has the most affordable homes ($624k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Pinehurst | Acton | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
6,845Lowest |
24,155 |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
42.6±2 7% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 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% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst 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% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest 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±$16k 66% above MA |
$146,250±$27kLowest 41% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% 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±$22k 52% above MA |
$623,800±$22kLowest 11% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,946±$1k 10% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Acton-Boxborough | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 13.5Highest |
12.4Lowest |
| 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.