What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k 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	Westfield
People
Population	36,652Lowest	40,378Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA	39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Westfield 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%	33.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA	$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA	$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA	$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,746Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.5%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Westfield 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%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 282 in MA	#197 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Westfield
High school in town	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Westfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.9Lowest
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.