Compare towns
Andover vs Thompson vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the highest household income ($173k).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Thompson | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
9,337Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Thompson School District | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
7.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.