What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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	Townsend
People
Population	36,652Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Andover and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Andover and Townsend 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%	17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Townsend 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%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Andover and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA	$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,031Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	North Middlesex
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.1Highest
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.