What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).

Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k 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	Walpole
People
Population	36,652Highest	26,388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA	40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average
	Andover and Walpole 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%	25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Walpole 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%	16.9%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Walpole 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%	67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA	$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA
	Andover and Walpole 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	$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA	$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA
	Walpole and Andover 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	$8,523Lowest 42% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Highest MA: 51.8%	37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Andover and Walpole 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%	3.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Andover and Walpole 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	#107 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Walpole High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.3Lowest
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.