Compare towns
Andover vs Williston vs Acton vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Williston | Acton | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
10,144Lowest |
24,155 |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Williston and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 114% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| 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 157% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #13 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Acton-Boxborough | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 13.5Highest |
12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.