Compare towns
Andover vs Ware vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Ware | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
10,048Lowest |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Ware and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Milton 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
| Milton 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±$22k 52% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,474±$281 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Milton 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Andover and Milton 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Ware | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.