What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).

Taunton has the most affordable homes ($423k median).

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	Taunton
People
Population	36,652Lowest	60,433Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA	38.9±1.3Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Andover and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	15%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Andover and Taunton 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%	23.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA	$79,283±$7kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA	$422,800±$9kLowest 25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA	$1,324±$86Lowest 25% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,344Lowest 28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.8%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	13%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 282 in MA	#253 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Taunton High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	16.6Highest
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.