What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sharon has the most kids (27.2% under 18).

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	Sharon
People
Population	36,652Highest	18,574Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA	42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA
	Andover and Sharon 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%	27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sharon 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%	17.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sharon 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	76.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA	$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA
	Sharon 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±$22kHighest 52% above MA	$737,100±$33kLowest 31% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA	$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA
	Sharon and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	49%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sharon 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%	3.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	39 minHighest 33% above MA
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sharon 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	#23 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Sharon
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Sharon High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.