What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most people working from home (11.7%).

Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Merrimac
People
Population	2,135Lowest	6,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46±11.6Lowest 18% above U.S.	49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S.
	Merrimac and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Merrimac and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Andover and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Andover and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,514±$27kLowest 10% above U.S.	$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Merrimac and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$366,500±$44kLowest 10% above U.S.	$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,211±$190Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,352±$325Highest 4% below U.S.
	Merrimac and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,962Lowest 91% above U.S.	$7,399Highest 137% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Merrimac and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	32 minLowest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	11.7%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Andover and Merrimac 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	—	#188 of 282 in MA
School district	Andover School District	Pentucket
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.